W3C

XML Linking Language (XLink) Version 1.1

W3C Recommendation 06 May 2010

This version:
http://www.w3.org/TR/2010/REC-xlink11-20100506/
Latest version:
http://www.w3.org/TR/xlink11/
Previous versions:
http://www.w3.org/TR/2010/PR-xlink11-20100225/ http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/WD-xlink11-20080331/
Editors:
Steve DeRose, Brown University Scholarly Technology Group
Eve Maler, Sun Microsystems
David Orchard, Jamcracker
Norman Walsh, Mark Logic Corporation - Version 1.1

Please refer to the errata for this document, which may include normative corrections.

See also translations.

This document is also available in these non-normative formats: XML.


Abstract

This specification defines the XML Linking Language (XLink) Version 1.1, which allows elements to be inserted into XML documents in order to create and describe links between resources. It uses XML syntax to create structures that can describe links similar to the simple unidirectional hyperlinks of today's HTML, as well as more sophisticated links.

Status of this Document

This section describes the status of this document at the time of its publication. Other documents may supersede this document. A list of current W3C publications and the latest revision of this technical report can be found in the W3C technical reports index at http://www.w3.org/TR/.

This document is a W3C Recommendation. It implements all of the XLink 1.1 requirements documented in [Extending XLink 1.0]. This document is a product of the XML Core Working Group as part of the W3C XML Activity.

This edition supersedes the previous W3C Recommendation of 27 June 2001.

Please report errors in this document to the public www-xml-linking-comments@w3.org mailing list; public archives are available.

There is an Implementation Report for XLink 1.1. A Test Suite is maintained to help assessing the conformance to this specification.

This document has been reviewed by W3C Members, by software developers, and by other W3C groups and interested parties, and is endorsed by the Director as a W3C Recommendation. It is a stable document and may be used as reference material or cited from another document. W3C's role in making the Recommendation is to draw attention to the specification and to promote its widespread deployment. This enhances the functionality and interoperability of the Web.

This document was produced by a group operating under the 5 February 2004 W3C Patent Policy. W3C maintains a public list of any patent disclosures made in connection with the deliverables of the group; that page also includes instructions for disclosing a patent. An individual who has actual knowledge of a patent which the individual believes contains Essential Claim(s) must disclose the information in accordance with section 6 of the W3C Patent Policy.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction
    1.1 Origin and Goals
2 XLink Concepts
    2.1 Links and Resources
    2.2 Arcs, Traversal, and Behavior
    2.3 Resources in Relation to the Physical Location of a Linking Element
3 XLink Processing and Conformance
    3.1 Processing Dependencies
    3.2 Markup Conformance
    3.3 Application Conformance
        3.3.1 Full Conformance
        3.3.2 Simple Conformance
4 XLink Markup Design
    4.1 XLink Attribute Usage Patterns
    4.2 XLink Element Type Relationships
    4.3 Attribute Value Defaulting
    4.4 Integrating XLink Usage with Other Markup
    4.5 Using XLink with Legacy Markup
5 XLink Elements and Attributes
    5.1 Extended Links (extended-Type Element)
        5.1.1 Local Resources for an Extended Link (resource-Type Element)
        5.1.2 Remote Resources for an Extended Link (locator-Type Element)
        5.1.3 Traversal Rules for an Extended Link (arc-Type Element)
        5.1.4 Titles for Extended Links, Locators, and Arcs (title-Type Element)
        5.1.5 Locating Linkbases (Special Arc Role)
    5.2 Simple Links (simple-Type Element)
    5.3 XLink Element Type Attribute (type)
    5.4 Locator Attribute (href)
    5.5 Semantic Attributes (role, arcrole, and title)
    5.6 Behavior Attributes (show and actuate)
        5.6.1 show Attribute
        5.6.2 actuate Attribute
    5.7 Traversal Attributes (label, from, and to)

Appendices

A References
    A.1 Normative References
    A.2 Non-Normative References
B Sample DTD (Non-Normative)
C Sample XML Schema (Non-Normative)
D Sample RELAX NG Grammar (Non-Normative)
E Changes from XLink 1.0 (Non-Normative)