Linking from within sentences (inline)

Use inline links to:

• link to internal or external content closely related to the user needs met by your content

Incorporating inline related links

When incorporating inline links in content, you should:

• make sure all links are provided at the point at which they’re most useful
• avoid confusing users with too many links
• link to online services first, unless an offline alternative is better for your users
• only link to other sites where appropriate

Writing inline related link text

When writing inline link text, it should:

• be descriptive and make sense in isolation, for example ‘apply for a bus pass’ not ‘click here’
• be front-loaded with relevant terms
• be easy to select; a one-word link may be difficult to select
• not be used more than once to go to different destinations
• for links that navigate to information, be the name of the information
• for links that navigate to pages where a user can start a task, start with a verb
• make it clear users are leaving GOV.WALES

Inline links linking to information

The information is on GOV.WALES:

• the school nursing framework explains the role of school nurses in primary and secondary schools

The information is not on GOV.WALES:

• you can find advice on saving for a deposit on Money Helper

Inline links linking to tasks

The task is on GOV.WALES:

• for free travel on buses apply for a bus pass

The task is not on GOV.WALES:

• for free travel on buses apply for a bus pass on Transport for Wales 

Check links

You must open and check all links in the link tool. Links to other GOV.WALES pages must appear similar to /node/20648 and only begin https:// if they are to an anchor on another page.

Create an internal link

1. highlight the link text
2. select the link icon
3. start typing the title of the page (or paste full title) in the URL field and the autocomplete list will appear
4. select the internal page you want to link to
5. select Save (tick icon)

This will create a link which appears similar to /node/20648. This means the link will be updated if the URL of the destination page changes.

Create an external link or link to an anchor in another page

1. highlight the link text
2. select the link icon
3. paste the full URL into the URL field
4. if linking to an anchor include # followed by the anchor id or name
5. select Save (tick icon)

Create and link to an anchor on the same page

Create an anchor:

1. place the cursor at the start of the text where you want the anchor to go to
2. select the flag icon
3. give the anchor a unique name without any spaces or special characters
4. select Save (tick icon)

Link to an anchor:

1. highlight the text that will link to the anchor
2. select the link icon
3. in Link URL type # followed by the anchor name (do not separate them with space)
4. select Save (tick icon)