Working with links
A hyperlink is an element of a document or webpage that links to a website or webpage, another document, or to part of the same or another document. Hyperlinks are key building blocks of the internet.
Retrieving a link
Wherever you use an online source, you should provide a link to it. To go automatically to the address bar of a browser and highlight the current address, press CTRL+L (Windows) or CMD+L (macOS); you can then press CTRL+C or CMD+C to copy the link, so that you can insert it into your own document.
Tip
If you choose to insert a link into body text, it should always be incorporated into intelligible link text. Make sure that you write clear and helpful link text: for example, “Smith’s discussion shows…”, not “as you can see here”. To create a link, press CTRL+K (Windows) or CMD+K (macOS).Kinds of link
At its simplest, a link is a current web address as displayed in a web browser.
You will also find yourself using other types of link. A persistent URL is a link that is designed to be permanent and is often a feature of library catalogue pages.
Persistent link in a library catalogue page
Where one is provided, you should always make use of a persistent link.
A digital object identifier (DOI) is another important kind of link: it is a persistent identifier for a published item and should therefore be used in your bibliographies or lists of works cited.
A digital object identifier in an academic journal
Links as references
Links can be used to document your sources. Make sure you follow the relevant style conventions in incorporating them into your work.