What Is Anchor Text?
Anchor text is the visible, clickable wording of a hyperlink. It describes the page or resource that the link points to and gives readers context before they follow it. Search engines can also use anchor text as a relevance signal, although the surrounding content and the linking page also influence interpretation.
Quick Facts About Anchor text
Category
Link element
Used for
Describing linked pages
Common confusion
The link is not the anchor text
Also called
Link text
Often discussed with
Link Building For Lawyers
Key Takeaways About Anchor text
- Anchor text describes a link destination.
- Relevant wording helps readers assess the link.
- Anchor text is not the same as a backlink.
How Anchor Text Works
Anchor text appears inside a hyperlink and gives the link a readable label. A page may link to a legal service page with wording that identifies the service, or it may use a business name as the label. The destination page, surrounding copy and linking context help readers understand the relationship.
Related glossary terms: Alt text, Internal linking, Toxic backlink.
Search engines examine anchor text as part of link interpretation. Descriptive wording can clarify the subject of a linked page, while vague wording gives less context. Internal linking connects pages within one website, while a backlink comes from another website. Both link types can contain anchor text, but their source and purpose differ.
Expert Note
When we plan Link Building For Lawyers, we review whether anchor text describes the linked legal topic and fits the surrounding sentence. We vary wording across relevant placements and check that each link reads naturally for people, not just search engines.
Anchor text in Practice: A Real-World Example
A Sydney family law firm may receive a relevant editorial link with the anchor text “family law advice in Sydney”. The wording tells readers what they will find on the linked page and matches the page’s subject.
Related Services
Related Terms
Alt text
Alt text is a written description attached to an image in a webpage’s code. Screen readers…
Internal linking
Internal linking is the practice of connecting pages within the same website through clickable links. These…
Toxic backlink
A Toxic backlink is an inbound link from a low-quality, deceptive, hacked, irrelevant or link-manipulation source…
Search intent
Search intent is the reason behind a search query and the outcome the searcher wants. It…
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