In today’s digital world, computers and the internet are used every day for learning, communication, and entertainment. When we visit websites, read online lessons, or search for information, we often move from one page to another. This movement is made possible by something called a link. Without links, the internet would not work the way we know it today.
This lesson will help Grade 5 students understand what links and hyperlinks are, how they work, and why they are very important when using computers and the internet. By the end of this lesson, students will know how links connect web pages and how to use them safely and correctly.
A link is something you can click or tap that takes you to another page, website, file, or place on the internet. Links are usually found on websites and are often shown as colored or underlined text, buttons, or images.
Links are very important in a website because they connect different pages and online resources together. They allow users to move easily from one piece of information to another. For example, a link on a school website may take you to the homework page, the announcements page, or the contact page.
Without links, each webpage would be separate and difficult to use. Links help create relationships between information stored on the internet, making browsing easier and faster for users.
In computers, a link is also called a hyperlink. A hyperlink is a clickable text, image, or button that connects one digital location to another.
When you click a hyperlink, it automatically opens another webpage, document, video, image, or even a computer program. Hyperlinks are commonly used on websites, emails, online books, and digital documents to help users move quickly and easily through information.
Hyperlinks can look different depending on how a website is designed. They may appear as blue underlined words, colorful buttons, or pictures that you can click.
Links play a very special role in websites and on the internet. They allow web pages to be connected to one another, forming what we call the World Wide Web. The word “web” is used because links connect pages like a spider’s web.
Some reasons why links are important include:
A hyperlink reference, also known as href, is an attribute used in web pages that tells the browser where a link will go. The href contains the address or location that will open when the link is clicked.
In simple words, the hyperlink reference is the destination of the link. Without it, the link would not know where to take the user.
There are two main types of hyperlink references:
An absolute reference shows the complete and exact location of a webpage or file. It includes the full web address, such as the protocol, domain name, and path. Because it contains the full address, the link will work no matter where the webpage is opened.
Absolute references are commonly used when linking to external websites or resources found on the internet.
Some computer systems use a backslash (\) to separate parts of the path,
especially in local file systems.
https://www.example.com/page.html
A relative reference shows the location of a webpage or file based on the current page. Instead of writing the full web address, it only shows the path from the current location.
Relative references are often used when linking pages within the same website. They are shorter and easier to manage, especially when a website has many pages.
Relative references use a forward slash (/) to separate parts of the
web address path.
lesson2.html or pages/contact.html
The main difference between absolute and relative references is how the location of the link is written. Absolute references show the full address, while relative references depend on the current page’s location.
Links and hyperlinks are very important parts of computers and the internet. They allow users to move from one page to another, connect information, and explore the web easily. Understanding links helps students become better and smarter users of technology.
By learning about hyperlinks, absolute references, and relative references, Grade 5 students can begin to understand how websites are made and how information is connected online.