Format of links

[alexwalker]

Hi,

I am new here and am sure this has been asked before but I have searched teh FAQ and forum and haven't found an answer.

My question is does the format of the links on my page that link to other parts of my site matter? Currently they in the following format in the html code:

[example.co.uk...]

should they just be:

page1.htm

or does it not matter?

Many Thanks
Alex

[ppg]

Hi Alex, Welcome to WebmasterWorld! [webmasterworld.com]

Your first example is an absolute URL, the second one is relative URL.

Try a site search here for 'relative absolute urls' and you'll find plenty of related threads to read through.

hth

[JamesR]

Hi Alex,

In short, for function they do not matter. The only reason why you might want to have absolute URLs (the long version with http: ) is if you move the pages to other directories on your site. If you plan to keep the pages where they are, relative URLs will work just fine.

[g1smd]

>> http://www.example.co.uk/page1.htm <<

>> page1.htm <<

There are a couple of other forms, when folders are involved:

/folder/another/page.html

../../elsewhere/page.html

I like the first as it specifies the full path within the site.

I do not like the second. If a page is moved elsewhere, I get all confused as to where those links actually pointed, and how they need to be edited to remain correct. It is also easy to miss re-doing some.

[brakthepoet]

I was just doing some thinking about this very topic a few days ago, alexwalker. Searchengineworld (Webmasterworld's sister site) has a good article about absolute vs. relative linking [searchengineworld.com]. Definitely worth a read.

[Ryan8720]

I always do relative linking. That way I can view locally, and if I switch servers (like I used to do often) I didn't have to go through and change all the links.

[Web Footed Newbie]

The debate will always go on, but for a site that you expect will change, I would recommend absolute URL's.

All I use are absolute URL's because a website is never done!

As for your absolute URL, try using a keyword in the path or filename, too:
Instead of: [example.co.uk...]

Use this: [example.co.uk...]

Hope that helps!
WFN :)