FamilySearch Wiki:Linking

Linking through hyperlinks is an important feature of the wiki. Internal links bind this resource together into an interconnected whole, and external links help user of the wiki find relevant resources in the external World Wide Web.

Linking to other articles in FamilySearch wiki
interwiki

Links should not display the full URL
Many URLs (website addresses) are long and not reader-friendly. For readability's sake, links should not include the full URL of the destination page. There may be extremely rare instances where displaying the full URL is desirable, but this should be the exception, not the rule, and should be done only if there is a compelling reason.

Example 1: a link by itself
Correct: FamilySearch

Incorrect: www.familysearch.org/

Example 2: a link in context
Correct: Order United States military records online.

Incorrect: Go to https://eservices.archives.gov/orderonline/start.swe?SWECmd=GotoView&amp;SWEView=GPEA+Product+Detail+-+Features+View+FFO&amp;SWEHo=eservices.archives.gov&amp;SWETS=1199728061&amp;SWEPostnApplet=GPEA+Product+Form

https://eservices.archives.gov/orderonline/start.swe?SWECmd=GotoView&amp;SWEView=GPEA+Product+Detail+-+Features+View+FFO&amp;SWEHo=eservices.archives.gov&amp;SWETS=1199728061&amp;SWEPostnApplet=GPEA+Product+Form to order United States military records online.

Click here to order United States military records online.

Clearly, the first link is much easier to read, takes less space, and helps users understand what they will find by clicking the link.

OCLC/WorldCat
Using the WorldCat template for these links will allow the links to be easily updated if the web address changes.

FHLC
Using the FHL template for these links will allow the links to be easily updated if the web address changes.

Record Search
Using the RecordSearch template for these links will allow the links to be easily updated if the web address changes.

Wikipedia
Using the Wikipedia template for these links will allow the links to be easily updated if the web address changes.

Don't use "click here" as link text
The W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, as well as organisations such as WebAIM recommend against the use of phrases such as "click here" as link text. "Link text should not be overly general, and should indicate the nature of the link target". The text should also make sense when read out of context. It is also pointed out that a mouse might not be available on the target device (e.g. because of a touchscreen), and that screen readers may review a list of available links on a page. Pages would also suffer when printed. A further disadvantage given is that it hinders the search engine optimisation of a page.