Difference Between Hypertext and Hyperlink

Hypertext and hyperlink are very much related terms but has a different meaning. The prior difference between the hypertext and hyperlink is that the hypertext is the non-linear representation of the data which when clicked redirects you to some other page. On the other hand, the hyperlink is the link embedded in the hypertext to which the control is transferred.

As the whole, we can say that the hyperlink is a part of the hypertext. Similarly, these hyperlinks can be embedded in various graphics.

Content: Hypertext Vs Hyperlink

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Basis for comparison	Hypertext	Hyperlink
Basic	Non-linear linking of the text too with some other information.	Reference used in the hypertext or with other hypermedia.
Involves	Only text	Text, media, audio, video, images, and graphics.
Information relevance	Hypertext directed information generates related information.	The directed link could contain some unrelated information.
Relation	Contains the hyperlink	Comprised of the URLs.

Definition of Hypertext

Hypertext is the text over which the link is embedded. In 1956, Ted Nelson introduced the term Hypertext. It was invented to bring the idea of the cross-reference in the computer world, similar to that is made in the books (like an index to the pages). However, the basic pattern of reading a book is sequential; that is, we read one sentence after the other. But, these hypertext brings the idea of the cross-referencing the data.

Example

This cross-referencing is quite complicated in the real world, but it makes the work easier. For example, if we are surfing on the internet, at the time of reading an article we suddenly stumble upon a term, which we wanted to know at that moment. If that term is a hypertext, we can directly go to that page where we can find the regarding information about that term. So, this eliminates the extra time of searching that term.

Definition of Hyperlink

The hyperlink is related to the hypertext, but it is not the same. The hyperlink contains the URL of the webpages. In a general way, a hyperlink is referenced when a hypertext navigated. These hyperlinks are hidden under the text, image, graphics, audio, video, and gets highlighted when we hover the mouse over it. To activate the hyperlink, we click the hypermedia, which results in the opening of the new document.

It establishes the connection between the information units, usually called as the target document and the alternate name for the hyperlink is anchor or node.

Example

The below-given example shows how hyperlinks work. The structure of the hyperlinks embedded in hypertext is quite simple. Here the nodes depict the semantic information and act as the anchors for links to the other pages.

The words present in the blue colour are the hypertexts which are containing the hyperlinks of web pages while the car is the hypermedia in which the hyperlink of the other page is embedded.

Conclusion

The significant difference between the hypertext and hyperlink is that the hypertext only contains the link within the text and used mostly in the related terms. On the contrary, the hyperlink can have the links hidden within some text, image, audio, video, graphics, which could lead to a different or unrelated webpage.