Anchor Text

Quick Definition

Anchor text is the visible, clickable text in a hyperlink. It tells users and search engines what the linked page is about. Descriptive anchor text improves both accessibility and SEO.

MDN documentation for the HTML anchor element

What Is Anchor Text?

The visible, clickable text inside a hyperlink. MDN: content "should indicate the link's destination." Google uses it to understand linked pages. Screen readers announce it for navigation.

Types: exact match, partial match, branded, generic (avoid), URL. Best practices: be descriptive, keep natural, vary text, make links visually distinct.

In WordPress: select text, press Ctrl+K, paste URL.

Why It Matters

Core SEO signal since Google's original PageRank. Also key for accessibility. See our SEO tips and SEO checklist.

Sources: Google Search Central: Link Best Practices, MDN: The Anchor Element

Related Terms

External LinkAn external link (outbound link) is a hyperlink from your website to a page on a different website. Linking to authoritative sources builds trust with both users and search engines.Internal LinkAn internal link is a hyperlink that points from one page on your website to another page on the same website. Internal links help visitors navigate and tell search engines how your content is organized.SEOSEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the practice of optimizing your website so it ranks higher in search engine results like Google. Higher rankings mean more free, organic traffic to your WordPress site.

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