What is the href attribute of the a tag in HTML?

The href attribute of the <a> tag in HTML is used to specify the destination URL or resource that the hyperlink should point to. It is a fundamental attribute for creating links on web pages.

Here's a breakdown of what the href attribute does:

1. Purpose: The primary purpose of the href attribute is to define the target of a hyperlink. When a user clicks on a link (an <a> element), the browser navigates to the URL specified in the href attribute.

2. URL Specification: The value of the href attribute is a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). This URL can be:

- Absolute URL: A full URL that includes the protocol (e.g., https://www.example.com/page.html). This is used to link to external websites or resources.

- Relative URL: A URL that is relative to the current page's location (e.g., page.html or /folder/page.html). This is used to link to other pages within the same website.

- Fragment Identifier: A URL that points to a specific section within the same page (e.g., #section-id). This is used for internal navigation within a page.

- Email Address: A URL that starts with mailto: followed by an email address (e.g., mailto:info@example.com). This opens the user's default email client with the specified address in the "To" field.

- Telephone Number: A URL that starts with tel: followed by a phone number (e.g., tel:+15551234567). This allows users to initiate a phone call on devices that support it.

3. Example Usage:

<a href="https://www.example.com">Visit Example</a> <!-- Absolute URL -->
<a href="about.html">About Us</a> <!-- Relative URL -->
<a href="#section2">Go to Section 2</a> <!-- Fragment Identifier -->
<a href="mailto:contact@example.com">Email Us</a> <!-- Email Address -->
<a href="tel:+15559876543">Call Us</a> <!-- Telephone Number -->

4. Importance: The href attribute is crucial for creating navigable web pages. Without it, the <a> tag would not function as a hyperlink, and users would not be able to move between pages or access external resources.

In summary, the href attribute is the backbone of hyperlinks in HTML, enabling users to navigate the web by specifying the destination URL for each link.

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