How to Use the Rel Attribute in HTML

The HTML rel attribute is like a secret doorway to the inner workings of web technology - it's not something most people think about, but it has an important role.

Ever wonder why certain links behave differently than others? That's where the rel attribute comes in. This amazing little tool allows you to specify certain relationships between different elements on your webpage and can make your website more user-friendly.

In this blog post, we'll explore the rel attribute, how it works, and some of its best use cases. So break out your flashlights – we're going on an adventure into the world of HTML attributes.

What is the HTML Rel Attribute?

The rel attribute is an HTML tag that defines how a particular link or element on your webpage relates to other elements. It's like an invisible bridge connecting one page to another, and it helps browsers understand which links are related.

For instance, if you have a link to an external website, adding the rel attribute can tell the browser that this link should open in a new tab or even trigger a popup. The rel attribute is also used to let search engines understand the relationship between two pages on your website.

How Do I Use the Rel Attribute?

Using the rel attribute is quite simple – all you need to do is add it to a link or element on your webpage. It's usually written as rel="attribute" where "attribute" is replaced with the type of relationship you want to define.

For example, to open a link in a new tab, you would add rel="noopener noreferrer". To indicate that two pages are related, you could add rel="related". Check out the examples below:

What are the different types of Rel Attributes?

There are a few different types of rel attributes that you can use to define relationships between elements on your webpage. Some of the most common ones are:

• Noopener noreferrer – opens a link in a new tab and prevents any websites from accessing certain data, such as your referrer URL.
• Related – indicates that two pages on your website are related or part of the same topic.
• Alternate – tells browsers that they should show an alternative version of the page when available (e.g., a printable version).
• Canonical – specifies which page should be considered the main one if there are multiple versions of it online.
• Help - indicates that the linked page contains necessary help documentation.
• Appendix - lets browsers know that the linked page is an appendix of the main page.
• Contents - indicates that the linked page contains a table of contents.
• Copyright -  tells browsers that the linked page contains copyright information.
• Index - tells browsers that the linked page is an index for the main page.
• License - indicates that the linked page contains information about licensing for the content on your website.
• Shortcut - specifies that the linked page is a shortcut for the main page.
• Prefetch - tells browsers to pre-fetch the linked page to load faster when accessed.
• Prev - indicates that the linked page is a previous page in a series.
• Next - tells browsers that the linked page is the next page in a series.
• Nofollow -  indicates that the linked page should not be followed by search engine crawlers.

As you can see, the rel attribute can be used in various ways to improve your website.

When to use the HTML Rel Attribute?

The rel attribute is a powerful tool for connecting elements on your website and can be used in various situations. Here are just a few of the most common use cases:

• Linking to external websites – by adding rel="noopener noreferrer" to a link, you can ensure it will open in a new tab and protect your referrer URL.

• Connecting related content – if you have multiple pages on the same topic, you can add rel="related" to indicate their connection.

• Specifying the main page – if you have multiple versions of a page, you can use rel="canonical" to specify which one should be considered the main page.

• Creating shortcuts – with rel="shortcut", you can create a shortcut link that leads directly to the main page.

• Pointing out copyright information – if you want to point out your copyright information or license, you can use rel="copyright" and rel="license".

Wrapping Up

The rel attribute is an amazing tool to help you create more user-friendly websites and organize your content. Its various use cases are a great way to keep your visitors engaged and ensure that search engines understand the relationship between different pages on your website. So don't forget to add it to your web pages and see what a difference it can make!