Link types describe the kind of relationship between two entities. In graphs or charts, these links appear as edges connecting nodes (which represent the entities). Different link types help us understand how things are related—whether through hierarchy, time, function, or location.

Links aren’t just pathways between pages—they define the relationships between ideas, concepts, or entities. In knowledge graphs and website structures, different types of links help organize information, support navigation, and add meaning.

Common Types of Links

Here are the most common relationship types used in knowledge graphs and link charts:

Hierarchical Links

Define parent-child relationships.
Example: “Sedan” is a type of “Car”.

Associative Links

Connect related items that don’t belong in a hierarchy.
Example: “Coffee” is related to “Caffeine”.

Causal Links

Show cause-and-effect relationships.
Example: “Smoking” causes “Lung Cancer”.

Temporal Links

Indicate time-based relationships.
Example: “World War II” came after “World War I”.

Spatial Links

Describe geographic or location-based relationships.
Example: “Eiffel Tower” is located in “Paris”.

Functional Links

Show roles or responsibilities.
Example: “Alice” is employed by “TechCorp”.

Link Types in Website Structures

On websites, links don’t just connect pages—they organize how users navigate and how search engines understand your content. Here’s how linking types break down in web architecture:

Locality: Local vs. Global Linking

Local Links

Connect closely related pages within a section.
Example: Product pages within the same category.

Global Links

Appear across the entire site.
Example: Links in headers, footers, or site-wide menus.

Completeness: A Logical Link Structure

A complete linking structure ensures:

  • Easy access to important content
  • Logical navigation paths
  • No dead ends or orphaned pages

This improves user experience and search engine crawling.

Scalability: Block vs. Individual Links

Block Links

A group of links shown together.
Example: Navigation menus or “Related Articles” sections.

Individual Links

Standalone links placed within content.
Example: A single hyperlink inside a paragraph.

Three Core Link Types on Web Pages

To better organize and understand web links, we can classify them into three node types:

1. S-Nodes (Structural Nodes)

  • Appear on every page (e.g., header/footer)

  • Provide consistent navigation

  • Examples: “Home,” “About Us,” “Contact”

2. C-Nodes (Content Nodes)

  • Block links within main content

  • Help users explore related topics

  • Examples: “You May Also Like,” “Related Articles”

3. I-Nodes (Individual Nodes)

  • Single, in-text links

  • Offer highly contextual, topic-specific navigation

  • Example: A link in a blog post pointing to a referenced study

Key Takeaways

  • Link types define how entities relate to each other—whether in data graphs or websites.

  • A smart link structure improves readability, user flow, and search engine performance.

  • Use S-nodes for consistency, C-nodes for content discovery, and I-nodes for deep relevance.

  • Classifying your links leads to better navigation, better SEO, and a more scalable site design.

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