Links do more than move people between pages. The HTML rel attribute describes the relationship between your page and another resource. The value external means: indicates a link leads outside the current website.
What external means
Indicates a link leads outside the current website.
Write it as rel="external" on an appropriate <a> or <link> element. Not every relationship is defined for both: the correct element depends on the link type.
Example markup
<!-- Relationship: external -->
<a href="https://example.test" rel="external">Visit a partner site</a>What the browser does
This example uses <a>, which displays a regular link. The visible link text tells readers where it leads; the rel value adds information for browsers, search engines or other software.
External does not open a new tab or automatically display a warning.
This relationship value does not automatically restyle the link, change its accessible name or make a new page secure. Navigation and user-facing labels still need deliberate HTML.
When to choose this token
Use external only when the relationship is genuinely true for that destination. If it describes a web resource, make sure that resource exists and serves the right content. For an external URL, do not confuse a relationship hint with permission, security or a redirect.
Small practice task
Create a simple test page with the example. Inspect the resulting element in Developer Tools. Change the target to another sensible file or URL, then explain whether the visible page, a network request, or only the relationship metadata changed.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- External does not open a new tab or automatically display a warning.
- Assuming
rel="external"has the same effect on every kind of HTML link. - Adding a relationship token when the destination does not have that relationship.
Key Takeaways
externalmeans indicates a link leads outside the current website.- External does not open a new tab or automatically display a warning.
- Choose a valid link element and test what the browser actually does.