Hypertext
Any text that contains links to other text documents. Hypertext is most commonly associated with the World Wide Web, where it is used to allow webpages to link to each other.
The use of hypertext is a way of presenting information in which text, sounds, video, images, and actions are linked together in a way that allows you to jump around between them in whatever order you choose.
Hypertext can also be used to provide additional content within text, using StretchText, which allows users to expand or contract text within a webpage or document. Though not as commonly utilized as links, StretchText offers readers the ability to gain additional information or context without leaving the initial text.
Also See: Anchor, Hyperlink, HTML, HTTP
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hypertext the same thing as a hyperlink?
Hypertext is any document that contains hyperlinks, while the hyperlink is what you actually click on to be taken to another page. For instance, by placing Learn the Net within this answer, the answer becomes hypertext. Clicking on the above “Learn the Net” hyperlink will take you to our homepage at www.learnthenet.com.
Is hypertext used anywhere other than the World Wide Web?
Hypertext has numerous applications beyond the World Wide Web. Most e-readers utilize hypertext to allow users to click on a chapter in the glossary and be taken directly to that page in the book. They also use hypertext to provide additional context within the story, such as providing a diction definition when users click on a word, or sometimes even links to additional Web-based content. Hypertext can also be used within documents to connect section together, as well as within software application to link text to other resources. Hypertext has also long been utilized within software help libraries and wikis to link to relevant informational resources.
How do I create hypertext?
Creating hypertext is as simple as adding a link. If you are building a webpage, you can create hypertext by selecting a section of your page’s text and clicking on the hyperlink icon (it usually looks like two connected chain links). Once you specify the destination, your original text will now bring your viewer to that page with a single click. You can also use this same method to create hyperlinks within a document or other office file.
Do I have to leave the current document in order to utilize hypertext links?
Absolutely not! The biggest downside to hypertext is that if you click on too many links, it can sometimes be difficult to get back to where you first started, either because you forgot the path you took, or because you got sidetracked by all the other pages you’ve visited. Thankfully, there’s an easy way to prevent that. Instead of doing a standard click over the link, right-click and select, “Open Link in a new Tab” or “Open Link in a new Window.” That way, you can follow the link to the new page, but keep the starting page open as well. On a mobile device, you can usually find this option by pressing and holding the link.