Links do more than move people between pages. The HTML rel attribute describes the relationship between your page and another resource. The value search means: links to an OpenSearch description or search resource.
What search means
Links to an OpenSearch description or search resource.
Write it as rel="search" 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: search -->
<link rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" href="search.xml" title="Site search">What the browser does
This example uses <link>, which normally belongs in the document head and describes a resource relationship without adding a visible clickable link.
Search integration is browser-dependent; a visible search form works broadly.
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 search 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
- Search integration is browser-dependent; a visible search form works broadly.
- Assuming
rel="search"has the same effect on every kind of HTML link. - Adding a relationship token when the destination does not have that relationship.
Key Takeaways
searchmeans links to an OpenSearch description or search resource.- Search integration is browser-dependent; a visible search form works broadly.
- Choose a valid link element and test what the browser actually does.