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I was wondering, what's the proper way to link to files?
>>**Only to files that i created for *my* site.<<
**Not to other websites.
**Other websites i know i need to us the http:// or www. for these outside links.
I ask because i've seen some websites use the link like this:
1.
<a href="file.html">File</a>
and others use this code:
2.
<a href="http://www.blahwidget.com/file.html">File</a>
and others use this code:
3.
<a href="www.blahwidget.com/file.html">File</a>
Well, please explain as i don't want to link the wrong way and not have it work. A little concerned.
Q.1. Which way should i link? Can i just use the first example for all links on my site? I'd like to use this for all my links.
>> <a href="file.html">File</a>
Well...Thanks for your help guys:)
frenzy77
Some people think otherwise but I doubt many of them have done any programming. Search engines will treat all links identically. Why is that I hear you ask? Simply because all link information will be stored in a single normalised format. Whether the links appear on a page in relative or absolute form will make no difference.
So, to ensure easy maintenance (static html) and reduce page size, use relative urls. However, for dynamic pages, the issue of easy maintenance is blurred.
HOWEVER, www.domain.com may be treated as a separate url to domain.com
Kaled.
There are two TYPES of links, absolute and relative.
All absolute links start with "http://"
_______________________________________
"http://www.webmasterworld.com" is an absolute link.
Relative links start with either...
___________________________________
The file itself...
bob.html
... or ../ to go UP a directory to access a file.
If we're at http://www.example.com/1/2/3 and we want to link to...
http://www.example.com/1/bob.html we'd use...
<A href="../../bob.html" .....
///////////////////////
There are good and bad reasons to use both, you'll find out what your preference is sooner or later though.
Also you ~MUST~ use [....] This tells your computer to look on the internet. This would be the same thing if you asked me where the (closest) penguins are and I pointed north; assumming we're in like the US/Europe/etc and not in like umm, with our good mates in Aussie!
It's a love/hate feeling when I see people not use the http:// protocol in hyperlinks.
If you're on the page...
http://www.example.com/bob1.html
and you make a link of...
www.webmasterworld.com/bob.html
Your link will bring you to...
[webmasterworld.com...]
Hope this helps!
Ok. So if i use absolute linking it would be placed like this for all files i link to.
>> <a href="http://www.widget.com/index.html">Home</a>
Q.1. >>Can i use this for all my links on my site?
Q.2. I don't know anything about directories so if my files are all in the same folder or area will it be ok to use the link:
<a href="http://www.widget.com/index.html">Home</a>
for a link to a file in the same folder such as a file
named index.html
Q.3. Would'nt i link to this with just the
<a href="index.html">link</a> since the file is in the same folder?
Q.4. What is wrong with useing the
<a href="widget.html">Link</a>
Q.5. Also if my files are all named like this:
index.html
abc.html
xyz.html
>>Q. When i upload them to my web space, will the domain that is set-up automatically attach the index.html file to the domain?
Like this:
[----.com...]
or do i have to do this somehow?
Q.6. >>>Also, will my host automatically set-up the domain as [-----.com...]
**(deleted name so it won't link.)
I ask because if i get inbound links i would like to receive the credit for the links with http:// or the www. (depending on how you have your link set-up.)
I've read that you only receive credit for one or the other.
Not sure how this all works.
**Please answer all questions:)
I really need some help as i'm new to placeing a site online.
ps. Is it ok if i sticky mail you if i need assistance with set-up of my website?
Thanks again guys:) Your very helpful:)
frenzy77
If prefer to use relative URLS make sure you have <base href="http://www.example.com/"> were its your domain of course, in the header of of each document.
If prefer to use relative URLS make sure you have <base href="http://www.example.com/"> were its your domain of course, in the header of of each document.
Can you expand on that thought?
Q.1. What's 302 hijacking? I'm not an expert like you guys:) I would like to just like to link up my pages safely so they work properly?
Q.2. Can i just use:
<a href="http://www.---.com/index.html">link</a>
for all my links and be protected?
Thanks guys for your help:)
Also, can you guys refer to my above questions and answer them as well? I really need your guys advice. I'm a newbie and i don't know as much as you guys yet.
Thanks guys:)
frenzy77
I prefer to always "count from the root" like: /folder/folder/filename.html instead.
.
When linking to an index file, do not include the index file filename in the link, end the link with trailing / only. Link to http://www.domain.com/ or / or /folder/ or http://www.domain.com/folder/ instead.
A number of your questions, frenzy77, can be found by using Google to search our site. For instance, enter site:webmasterworld.com 302 hijack and you will find MANY discussions about a pretty bewildering and frustrating topic. However, if you are just starting to learn HTML, it's probably just going to confuse things for you.
So I'd suggest you continue to ask questions about things you can't find answers for with a reasonable amount of searching - but one topic per thread, please. And don't forget that we have a forum dedicated to people who are New To Web Development [webmasterworld.com] -- you may find lots of answers in there.
In particular, as with every forum here, there is a Library linked at the top of every page in the New to the Web forum that holds some of the very best posts. There is one thread in particular that lists links to many other educational threads:
Valuable Reading for the New Webmaster [webmasterworld.com]
