Hyperlink

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ˈhaɪpə(ɹ)ˌlɪŋk/

Definitions

1. A digital link embedded in online documents that facilitates movement to other content, either within the same platform or on a different site, thereby improving access to information
2. An electronic connection in written content that allows users to access related material instantly, whether it be within the document or externally, thus streamlining information retrieval
3. A connective element in digital text that enables users to instantly navigate to supplementary information, either within the same document or to an external resource, facilitating smooth access to data

Etymology: The word combines "hyper-", from Greek "hyper" meaning "over" or "beyond", with "link", which in English originally meant a single ring of a chain. Its roots are therefore a chain piece stretched past its usual reach, a fitting picture for a connection that jumps from one document to another. The second possible source is a blend of "hypertext" and "link". Both accounts point to the same idea: "hypertext" was the term for text that branches into other text, and "hyperlink" names the connection that makes that branching possible. The first element carries the sense of going beyond the ordinary page, while the second supplies the sense of joining.

Synonyms: link, reference, pointer, connection, attachment