anchor

hypertext (Or "span", "region", "button", "extent") An area

within the content of a hypertext node (e.g. a web page)

which is the source or destination of a link. A source

anchor may be a word, phrase, image, or possibly the whole

node. A destination anchor may be a whole node or some

position within the node.

Typically, clicking with the mouse on a source anchor causes

the link to be followed and the anchor at the opposite end of

the link to be displayed. Anchors are highlighted in some way

(either always, or when the mouse is over them), or they may

be marked by a special symbol.

In HTML anchors are created with the A..../A construct.

The opening A tag of a source anchor has an HREF (hypertext

reference) attribute giving the destination in the form of a

URL - usually a whole node or "page". E.g.

A HREF="http://www.foldoc.org/"

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing/A

Destination anchors are only used in HTML to name a position

within a page using a NAME attribute. E.g.

A NAME="chapter3"

The name or "fragment identifier" is appended to the URL of

the page with a "#":

http://www.fairystory.com/goldilocks.html#chapter3

(Though it is generally better to break pages into smaller

units than to have large pages with named sections).

(1997-11-15)