Link Relations

Created: 2005-08-26
Last Updated: 2026-06-12
Available Formats: XML
HTML
TXT

Registry Included Below

Link Relation Types

Link Relation Types

Registration Procedure(s)

Specification Required

Expert(s)

Mark Nottingham, Julian Reschke, Jan Algermissen

Reference

[RFC 8288]

Note

New link relations, along with changes to existing relations, can be requested 
using the [registry interface] or the mailing list defined in [RFC 8288].

Available Formats

CSV

Relation Name	Description	Reference	Notes
about	Refers to a resource that is the subject of the link's context.	[RFC 6903], section 2
acl	Asserts that the link target provides an access control resource for the link context.	[https://solidproject.org/TR/wac#acl-link-relation]
alternate	Refers to a substitute for this context	[HTML]
amphtml	Used to reference alternative content that uses the AMP profile of the HTML format.	[AMP HTML]
api-catalog	Refers to a list of APIs available from the Publisher of the link context.	[RFC 9727]
appendix	Refers to an appendix.	[HTML 4.01 Specification]
apple-touch-icon	Refers to an icon for the context. Synonym for icon.	[Configuring Web Applications]
apple-touch-startup-image	Refers to a launch screen for the context.	[Configuring Web Applications]
archives	Refers to a collection of records, documents, or other materials of historical interest.	[HTML5]
author	Refers to the context's author.	[HTML]	See also 'me'
blocked-by	Identifies the entity that blocks access to a resource following receipt of a legal demand.	[RFC 7725]
bookmark	Gives a permanent link to use for bookmarking purposes.	[HTML]
c2pa-manifest	This link relation identifies the C2PA Manifest associated with the link context	[Content Credentials : C2PA Technical Specification]
canonical	Designates the preferred version of a resource (the IRI and its contents).	[RFC 6596]
chapter	Refers to a chapter in a collection of resources.	[HTML 4.01 Specification]
cite-as	Indicates that the link target is preferred over the link context for the purpose of permanent citation.	[RFC 8574]
collection	The target IRI points to a resource which represents the collection resource for the context IRI.	[RFC 6573]
compression-dictionary	Refers to a compression dictionary used for content encoding.	[RFC 9842, Section 3]
contents	Refers to a table of contents.	[HTML 4.01 Specification]
convertedfrom	The document linked to was later converted to the document that contains this link relation. For example, an RFC can have a link to the Internet-Draft that became the RFC; in that case, the link relation would be "convertedFrom".	[RFC 7991]	This relation is different than "predecessor-version" in that "predecessor-version" is for items in a version control system. It is also different than "previous" in that this relation is used for converted resources, not those that are part of a sequence of resources.
copyright	Refers to a copyright statement that applies to the link's context.	[HTML 4.01 Specification]
create-form	The target IRI points to a resource where a submission form can be obtained.	[RFC 6861]
current	Refers to a resource containing the most recent item(s) in a collection of resources.	[RFC 5005]
deprecation	Refers to documentation (intended for human consumption) about the deprecation of the link's context.	[RFC 9745], section 3
describedby	Refers to a resource providing information about the link's context.	[Protocol for Web Description Resources (POWDER)]
describes	The relationship A 'describes' B asserts that resource A provides a description of resource B. There are no constraints on the format or representation of either A or B, neither are there any further constraints on either resource.	[RFC 6892]	This link relation type is the inverse of the 'describedby' relation type. While 'describedby' establishes a relation from the described resource back to the resource that describes it, 'describes' established a relation from the describing resource to the resource it describes. If B is 'describedby' A, then A 'describes' B.
disclosure	Refers to a list of patent disclosures made with respect to material for which 'disclosure' relation is specified.	[RFC 6579]
dns-prefetch	Used to indicate an origin that will be used to fetch required resources for the link context, and that the user agent ought to resolve as early as possible.	[HTML]
dpp	A link from a context URI that identifies a product to its digital product passport	[UN Transparency Protocol]
duplicate	Refers to a resource whose available representations are byte-for-byte identical with the corresponding representations of the context IRI.	[RFC 6249]	This relation is for static resources. That is, an HTTP GET request on any duplicate will return the same representation. It does not make sense for dynamic or POSTable resources and should not be used for them.
edit	Refers to a resource that can be used to edit the link's context.	[RFC 5023]
edit-form	The target IRI points to a resource where a submission form for editing associated resource can be obtained.	[RFC 6861]
edit-media	Refers to a resource that can be used to edit media associated with the link's context.	[RFC 5023]
enclosure	Identifies a related resource that is potentially large and might require special handling.	[RFC 4287]
external	Refers to a resource that is not part of the same site as the current context.	[HTML]
first	An IRI that refers to the furthest preceding resource in a series of resources.	[RFC 8288]	This relation type registration did not indicate a reference. Originally requested by Mark Nottingham in December 2004.
geofeed	Refers to a resource with IP geofeed location information related to the link context.	[RFC 9877]
glossary	Refers to a glossary of terms.	[HTML 4.01 Specification]
help	Refers to context-sensitive help.	[HTML]
hosts	Refers to a resource hosted by the server indicated by the link context.	[RFC 6690]	This relation is used in CoRE where links are retrieved as a "/.well-known/core" resource representation, and is the default relation type in the CoRE Link Format.
hub	Refers to a hub that enables registration for notification of updates to the context.	[WebSub]	This relation type was requested by Brett Slatkin.
ice-server	Conveys the STUN and TURN servers that can be used by an ICE agent to establish a connection with a peer.	[RFC 9725]
icon	Refers to an icon representing the link's context.	[HTML]
index	Refers to an index.	[HTML 4.01 Specification]
intervalafter	refers to a resource associated with a time interval that ends before the beginning of the time interval associated with the context resource	[Time Ontology in OWL] section 4.2.21
intervalbefore	refers to a resource associated with a time interval that begins after the end of the time interval associated with the context resource	[Time Ontology in OWL] section 4.2.22
intervalcontains	refers to a resource associated with a time interval that begins after the beginning of the time interval associated with the context resource, and ends before the end of the time interval associated with the context resource	[Time Ontology in OWL] section 4.2.23
intervaldisjoint	refers to a resource associated with a time interval that begins after the end of the time interval associated with the context resource, or ends before the beginning of the time interval associated with the context resource	[Time Ontology in OWL] section 4.2.24
intervalduring	refers to a resource associated with a time interval that begins before the beginning of the time interval associated with the context resource, and ends after the end of the time interval associated with the context resource	[Time Ontology in OWL] section 4.2.25
intervalequals	refers to a resource associated with a time interval whose beginning coincides with the beginning of the time interval associated with the context resource, and whose end coincides with the end of the time interval associated with the context resource	[Time Ontology in OWL] section 4.2.26
intervalfinishedby	refers to a resource associated with a time interval that begins after the beginning of the time interval associated with the context resource, and whose end coincides with the end of the time interval associated with the context resource	[Time Ontology in OWL] section 4.2.27
intervalfinishes	refers to a resource associated with a time interval that begins before the beginning of the time interval associated with the context resource, and whose end coincides with the end of the time interval associated with the context resource	[Time Ontology in OWL] section 4.2.28
intervalin	refers to a resource associated with a time interval that begins before or is coincident with the beginning of the time interval associated with the context resource, and ends after or is coincident with the end of the time interval associated with the context resource	[Time Ontology in OWL] section 4.2.29
intervalmeets	refers to a resource associated with a time interval whose beginning coincides with the end of the time interval associated with the context resource	[Time Ontology in OWL] section 4.2.30
intervalmetby	refers to a resource associated with a time interval whose end coincides with the beginning of the time interval associated with the context resource	[Time Ontology in OWL] section 4.2.31
intervaloverlappedby	refers to a resource associated with a time interval that begins before the beginning of the time interval associated with the context resource, and ends after the beginning of the time interval associated with the context resource	[Time Ontology in OWL] section 4.2.32
intervaloverlaps	refers to a resource associated with a time interval that begins before the end of the time interval associated with the context resource, and ends after the end of the time interval associated with the context resource	[Time Ontology in OWL] section 4.2.33
intervalstartedby	refers to a resource associated with a time interval whose beginning coincides with the beginning of the time interval associated with the context resource, and ends before the end of the time interval associated with the context resource	[Time Ontology in OWL] section 4.2.34
intervalstarts	refers to a resource associated with a time interval whose beginning coincides with the beginning of the time interval associated with the context resource, and ends after the end of the time interval associated with the context resource	[Time Ontology in OWL] section 4.2.35
item	The target IRI points to a resource that is a member of the collection represented by the context IRI.	[RFC 6573]
last	An IRI that refers to the furthest following resource in a series of resources.	[RFC 8288]	This relation type registration did not indicate a reference. Originally requested by Mark Nottingham in December 2004.
latest-version	Points to a resource containing the latest (e.g., current) version of the context.	[RFC 5829]
license	Refers to a license associated with this context.	[RFC 4946]	For implications of use in HTML, see: http://www.w3.org/TR/html5/links.html#link-type-license
linkset	The link target of a link with the "linkset" relation type provides a set of links, including links in which the link context of the link participates.	[RFC 9264]
lrdd	Refers to further information about the link's context, expressed as a LRDD ("Link-based Resource Descriptor Document") resource. See [RFC 6415] for information about processing this relation type in host-meta documents. When used elsewhere, it refers to additional links and other metadata. Multiple instances indicate additional LRDD resources. LRDD resources MUST have an "application/xrd+xml" representation, and MAY have others.	[RFC 6415]
manifest	Links to a manifest file for the context.	[Web App Manifest]
mask-icon	Refers to a mask that can be applied to the icon for the context.	[Creating Pinned Tab Icons]
me	Links to a resource about the author of the link's context.	[https://microformats.org/wiki/rel-me]	See also 'author'
media-feed	Refers to a feed of personalised media recommendations relevant to the link context.	[https://wicg.github.io/media-feeds/#discovery-of-media-feeds]
memento	The Target IRI points to a Memento, a fixed resource that will not change state anymore.	[RFC 7089]	A Memento for an Original Resource is a resource that encapsulates a prior state of the Original Resource.
micropub	Links to the context's Micropub endpoint.	[Micropub]
modulepreload	Refers to a module that the user agent is to preemptively fetch and store for use in the current context.	[HTML]
monitor	Refers to a resource that can be used to monitor changes in an HTTP resource.	[RFC 5989]
monitor-group	Refers to a resource that can be used to monitor changes in a specified group of HTTP resources.	[RFC 5989]
next	Indicates that the link's context is a part of a series, and that the next in the series is the link target.	[HTML]
next-archive	Refers to the immediately following archive resource.	[RFC 5005]
nofollow	Indicates that the context’s original author or publisher does not endorse the link target.	[HTML]
noopener	Indicates that any newly created top-level browsing context which results from following the link will not be an auxiliary browsing context.	[HTML]
noreferrer	Indicates that no referrer information is to be leaked when following the link.	[HTML]
opener	Indicates that any newly created top-level browsing context which results from following the link will be an auxiliary browsing context.	[HTML]
openid2.local_id	Refers to an OpenID Authentication server on which the context relies for an assertion that the end user controls an Identifier.	[OpenID Authentication 2.0 - Final]
openid2.provider	Refers to a resource which accepts OpenID Authentication protocol messages for the context.	[OpenID Authentication 2.0 - Final]
original	The Target IRI points to an Original Resource.	[RFC 7089]	An Original Resource is a resource that exists or used to exist, and for which access to one of its prior states may be required.
p3pv1	Refers to a P3P privacy policy for the context.	[The Platform for Privacy Preferences 1.0 (P3P1.0) Specification]
payment	Indicates a resource where payment is accepted.	[RFC 8288]	This relation type registration did not indicate a reference. Requested by Joshua Kinberg and Robert Sayre. It is meant as a general way to facilitate acts of payment, and thus this specification makes no assumptions on the type of payment or transaction protocol. Examples may include a web page where donations are accepted or where goods and services are available for purchase. rel="payment" is not intended to initiate an automated transaction. In Atom documents, a link element with a rel="payment" attribute may exist at the feed/channel level and/or the entry/item level. For example, a rel="payment" link at the feed/channel level may point to a "tip jar" URI, whereas an entry/ item containing a book review may include a rel="payment" link that points to the location where the book may be purchased through an online retailer.
pingback	Gives the address of the pingback resource for the link context.	[Pingback 1.0]
preconnect	Used to indicate an origin that will be used to fetch required resources for the link context. Initiating an early connection, which includes the DNS lookup, TCP handshake, and optional TLS negotiation, allows the user agent to mask the high latency costs of establishing a connection.	[HTML]
predecessor-version	Points to a resource containing the predecessor version in the version history.	[RFC 5829]
prefetch	The prefetch link relation type is used to identify a resource that might be required by the next navigation from the link context, and that the user agent ought to fetch, such that the user agent can deliver a faster response once the resource is requested in the future.	[HTML]
preload	Refers to a resource that should be loaded early in the processing of the link's context, without blocking rendering.	[Preload]	Additional target attributes establish the detailed fetch properties of the link.
prerender	Used to identify a resource that might be required by the next navigation from the link context, and that the user agent ought to fetch and execute, such that the user agent can deliver a faster response once the resource is requested in the future.	[Resource Hints]
prev	Indicates that the link's context is a part of a series, and that the previous in the series is the link target.	[HTML]
preview	Refers to a resource that provides a preview of the link's context.	[RFC 6903], section 3
previous	Refers to the previous resource in an ordered series of resources. Synonym for "prev".	[HTML 4.01 Specification]
prev-archive	Refers to the immediately preceding archive resource.	[RFC 5005]
privacy-policy	Refers to a privacy policy associated with the link's context.	[RFC 6903], section 4
profile	Identifying that a resource representation conforms to a certain profile, without affecting the non-profile semantics of the resource representation.	[RFC 6906]	Profile URIs are primarily intended to be used as identifiers, and thus clients SHOULD NOT indiscriminately access profile URIs.
publication	Links to a publication manifest. A manifest represents structured information about a publication, such as informative metadata, a list of resources, and a default reading order.	[Publication Manifest]
rdap-active	The target is for an RDAP RIR search that filters for the status "active".	[RFC 9910]
rdap-bottom	Refers to the set of child RDAP objects that do not themselves have child objects, in a hierarchy of objects.	[RFC 9910]
rdap-down	Refers to a set of RDAP child objects in a hierarchy of objects.	[RFC 9910]
rdap-top	Refers to the topmost RDAP parent object in a hierarchy of objects.	[RFC 9910]
rdap-up	Refers to an RDAP parent object in a hierarchy of objects.	[RFC 9910]
related	Identifies a related resource.	[RFC 4287]
restconf	Identifies the root of RESTCONF API as configured on this HTTP server. The "restconf" relation defines the root of the API defined in RFC8040. Subsequent revisions of RESTCONF will use alternate relation values to support protocol versioning.	[RFC 8040]
replies	Identifies a resource that is a reply to the context of the link.	[RFC 4685]
ruleinput	The resource identified by the link target provides an input value to an instance of a rule, where the resource which represents the rule instance is identified by the link context.	[OCF Core Optional 2.2.0]
search	Refers to a resource that can be used to search through the link's context and related resources.	[OpenSearch]
section	Refers to a section in a collection of resources.	[HTML 4.01 Specification]
self	Conveys an identifier for the link's context.	[RFC 4287]
service	Indicates a URI that can be used to retrieve a service document.	[RFC 5023]	When used in an Atom document, this relation type specifies Atom Publishing Protocol service documents by default. Requested by James Snell.
service-desc	Identifies service description for the context that is primarily intended for consumption by machines.	[RFC 8631]
service-doc	Identifies service documentation for the context that is primarily intended for human consumption.	[RFC 8631]
service-meta	Identifies general metadata for the context that is primarily intended for consumption by machines.	[RFC 8631]
sip-trunking-capability	Refers to a capability set document that defines parameters or configuration requirements for automated peering and communication-channel negotiation of the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).	[RFC 9409]
sponsored	Refers to a resource that is within a context that is sponsored (such as advertising or another compensation agreement).	[Google Blog post 09-2019]
start	Refers to the first resource in a collection of resources.	[HTML 4.01 Specification]
status	Identifies a resource that represents the context's status.	[RFC 8631]
stylesheet	Refers to a stylesheet.	[HTML]
subsection	Refers to a resource serving as a subsection in a collection of resources.	[HTML 4.01 Specification]
successor-version	Points to a resource containing the successor version in the version history.	[RFC 5829]
sunset	Identifies a resource that provides information about the context's retirement policy.	[RFC 8594]
tag	Gives a tag (identified by the given address) that applies to the current document.	[HTML]
terms-of-service	Refers to the terms of service associated with the link's context.	[RFC 6903], section 5
timegate	The Target IRI points to a TimeGate for an Original Resource.	[RFC 7089]	A TimeGate for an Original Resource is a resource that is capable of datetime negotiation to support access to prior states of the Original Resource.
timemap	The Target IRI points to a TimeMap for an Original Resource.	[RFC 7089]	A TimeMap for an Original Resource is a resource from which a list of URIs of Mementos of the Original Resource is available.
type	Refers to a resource identifying the abstract semantic type of which the link's context is considered to be an instance.	[RFC 6903], section 6
ugc	Refers to a resource that is within a context that is User Generated Content.	[Google Blog post 09-2019]
up	Refers to a parent document in a hierarchy of documents.	[RFC 8288]	This relation type registration did not indicate a reference. Requested by Noah Slater.
version-history	Points to a resource containing the version history for the context.	[RFC 5829]
via	Identifies a resource that is the source of the information in the link's context.	[RFC 4287]
webmention	Identifies a target URI that supports the Webmention protocol. This allows clients that mention a resource in some form of publishing process to contact that endpoint and inform it that this resource has been mentioned.	[Webmention]	This is a similar "Linkback" mechanism to the ones of Refback, Trackback, and Pingback. It uses a different protocol, though, and thus should be discoverable through its own link relation type.
working-copy	Points to a working copy for this resource.	[RFC 5829]
working-copy-of	Points to the versioned resource from which this working copy was obtained.	[RFC 5829]