--- obsoleteMessage: `prev` and `next` typically have no effect on browser navigation controls. obsoleteSince: 20 ---

# Using the `link` element and navigation tools

ID: H59

Technology: html

Type: Technique

## When to Use

HTML

## Description

The objective of this technique is to describe how the `link` element can provide metadata about the position of an HTML page within a set of Web pages or can assist in locating content with a set of Web pages. The value of the `rel` attributes indicates what type of relation is being described, and the `href` attribute provides a link to the document having that relation. Different `link` element `rel` values are used to create relationships:

- `next`: Refers to the next document in a linear sequence of documents.
- `prev`: Refers to the previous document in an ordered series of documents.

## Examples

A Web page for Chapter 2 of an on-line book might contain the following links within the `head` section.

    <link rel="prev" href="Chapter01.html" title="01. Why Volunteer?">
    <link rel="next" href="Chapter03.html" title="03. Who Volunteers?" />

## Tests

### Procedure

For a Web page that is within a sequence or collection of Web pages:

1. Check that all `link` elements pertaining to navigation occur in the `head` section of the document.

2. For each `link` element in the `head` section of the document which pertains to navigation, check that it contains at least:

   1. a `rel` attribute identifying the link type
   2. a valid `href` attribute to locate the appropriate resource

### Expected Results

- All of the checks above are true.

## Related Techniques

- G1
- G63
- G64
- G123

## Resources

- HTML - `link` element
- HTML - sequential link types