4.2 Internal links

If the link does not look like a URL, it is considered to be internal in the current file. Links such as `[[My Target]]' or `[[My Target][Find my target]]' lead to a text search in the current file. The link can be followed with C-c C-o when the cursor is on the link, or with a mouse click (see Handling links). The preferred match for such a link is a dedicated target: the same string in double angular brackets. Targets may be located anywhere; sometimes it is convenient to put them into a comment line. For example

     # <<My Target>>

In HTML export (see HTML export), such targets will become named anchors for direct access through `http' links¹.

If no dedicated target exists, Org will search for the words in the link. In the above example the search would be for `my target'. Links starting with a star like `*My Target' restrict the search to headlines. When searching, Org mode will first try an exact match, but then move on to more and more lenient searches. For example, the link `[[*My Targets]]' will find any of the following:

     ** My targets
     ** TODO my targets are bright
     ** my 20 targets are

To insert a link targeting a headline, in-buffer completion can be used. Just type a star followed by a few optional letters into the buffer and press M-<TAB>. All headlines in the current buffer will be offered as completions. See Handling links, for more commands creating links.

Following a link pushes a mark onto Org's own mark ring. You can return to the previous position with C-c &. Using this command several times in direct succession goes back to positions recorded earlier.

• Radio targets: Make targets trigger links in plain text