Examples of External Link Icons in Use

External link icons are widely used on various websites to indicate that a hyperlink will take the user to an external site. Below are some examples of how these icons are employed across different contexts:

1. News Websites:

Platforms like BBC and CNN use external link icons when linking to sources on other websites. This signals to the reader that they are being directed to a different domain for more information.

2. Educational Institutions:

Universities and educational websites often utilize external link icons for links to articles, research papers, and resources on other sites. For example, a university’s department page may link to academic articles or databases and use an external link icon to inform students that they are navigating away from the school’s site.

3. Government Websites:

Government portals apply external link icons when linking to websites outside the government network, such as partner organizations or external services. This practice is vital for maintaining transparency and trust.

4. Blogs and Personal Websites:

Bloggers and content creators use external link icons to point readers to sources, affiliated products, or other websites. This is especially helpful in content marketing and affiliate advertising to signify sponsored links or partnerships.

5. Corporate Websites:

In the corporate sector, external link icons are placed on pages that link to reports, industry news, partner companies, or external applications. For example, a company might include an external link icon next to a link that leads to their LinkedIn profile.

6. E-commerce Sites:

E-commerce platforms use external link icons when linking to manufacturers’ websites, third-party product reviews, or external articles about their products. This helps customers verify product details or read additional reviews, ensuring they make well-informed purchasing decisions.

7. Digital Libraries and Archives:

Digital libraries and archives often feature external link icons for documents or resources that are hosted on external sites. This clarifies for users that they will access content from a different server.

8. Health and Medical Websites:

Health and medical sites frequently link to external sources for studies, clinical trials, or patient resources. External link icons next to these links notify users that they are being directed to another authority’s website, which may have different privacy policies and content standards.

9. Online Forums and Community Boards:

In forums where users can share links and resources, external link icons help differentiate between internal threads and external websites. This is particularly useful in communities like Reddit or specialized forums where linking to external content is frequent.

10. Non-Profit Organizations:

Non-profit organizations often link to external sites for reports, donor information, partnerships, and external articles. Using external link icons aids in maintaining clarity and guiding users effectively as they navigate these resources.

The external link icon is a small graphic displayed next to links to indicate that clicking on them will take you to a different website or open a file that is not part of the current domain. This icon usually looks like an arrow pointing up and to the right, suggesting movement away from the current page. It is used to inform users that they will be navigating away from the site they are currently on.

An external link is the opposite of an internal link, which is when you link from one page of your website to another page on the same site.