# How to use the HTML base tag to define a base URL
HTML `` is used to define the base URL of all relative URLs. This is done via the attribute `href`. The second attribute `target` defines where the respective reference targets are to be opened. The HTML `` tag is always stored within the `` element.
## What is the HTML `` tag?
The [HTML tag](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/websites/web-development/html-tags/) `` sets the base URL for all relative URLs on a website. It includes the two [HTML attributes](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/websites/web-development/html-attributes/) [href](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/websites/web-development/a-href-html/) and [target](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/websites/web-development/html-target/).
The href attribute specifies the URL that should serve as the **reference for all relative URLs, images, stylesheets and scripts in an HTML document**. This base URL can itself be relative. The target attribute defines the name of the window where all **linked targets should be opened**. Additionally, the HTML `` tag can specify how links in the current document should be opened.
The HTML `` tag is always stored within the `` element and should be used as early as possible in the code. If there are several `` tags, only the first one is taken into account, and all others are ignored.
## What is the syntax of HTML ``?
The basic syntax of HTML `` is as follows:
```html
```
## Examples of how `` works
### Storing the base URL
In the first example, we store the base URL `https://www.example-website.com` in the header area of a document using the HTML `` tag:
```html
HTML: base Tag example
Here’s your website content.
hash_1f37d1b3a2f1476e256bf8bef9f7ed2f9d7aa800
```
### Defining default destination for all URLs
In the next example, we’ll use the `target` attribute to specify where URLs should open when they are clicked:
```html
HTML: base Tag example
Here’s your website content.
hash_1f37d1b3a2f1476e256bf8bef9f7ed2f9d7aa800
```
### Accessing a base URL with multiple relative links
In the third example, we use HTML `` to create a base URL that is used as the start page by all relative links. This is what the code looks like:
```html
HTML: base Tag example
Various subpages
hash_1f37d1b3a2f1476e256bf8bef9f7ed2f9d7aa800
```
## What attributes does the HTML `` tag support?
The `` tag only supports the attributes `href` and `target`.
- **`href`**: The base URL for all relative URLs on the page is determined via `href`. The value of this attribute is always specified in the form of a [URL](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/server/know-how/url-what-is-a-uniform-resource-locator/). In the examples above, this value is `https://www.example-website.com`.
- **`target`**: The `target` attribute specifies which window a URL should be opened in. It can have the values `_blank`, `_parent`, `_self` and `_top`. `_blank` opens the link in a new window, `_parent` opens the link in a higher-level frame, `_self` opens the link in the same window and `_top` opens the link in the browser window, replacing the linking page instead of presenting it as a frame within the page.
Tip In our Digital Guide, you can find more informative articles about HTML. Among other things, you’ll find a comprehensive [beginners’ tutorial](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/websites/web-development/learning-html-a-beginners-tutorial/) as well as an overview of the best [HTML editors](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/websites/web-development/html-editors/).
This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/websites/web-development/html-base/](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/websites/web-development/html-base/) for AI/LLM consumption.