Working with Links and References
Links are the connective tissue of your workspace. A well-linked page doesn't just share information — it provides context. When a reader encounters an unfamiliar term, a link to the relevant page answers their question without them ever leaving the flow. When you reference a decision from last month, a link to the original document replaces "see the document we discussed" with a single click to the source of truth.
Quixli supports external URLs, internal page links, section anchors, file downloads, email and phone links, and rich bookmark cards. This guide covers each type, when to use it, and how to keep your links healthy over time.
Creating Links
There are three ways to create a link, and they all produce the same result — clickable text that takes the reader somewhere:
Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest)
Select the text you want to turn into a link, press Cmd/Ctrl + K, type or paste the URL, and press Enter. The selected text is now a clickable link. If you change your mind, press Escape to cancel.
Formatting Toolbar
Select text, then click the Link icon (🔗) in the floating toolbar. The same URL input appears. This method is identical to the keyboard shortcut but more discoverable for users who haven't memorized the keybinding.
Auto-Linking
Paste or type a full URL (starting with https://) and press Space or Enter. Quixli automatically converts it into a clickable link. If you paste a URL while text is selected, the selected text becomes the link label — a small but powerful shortcut.
Link Types Compared
Not all links serve the same purpose. Choosing the right type makes your content clearer and more professional:
Link Type | How to Create | Best For |
|---|---|---|
External URL |
| References to other websites, tools, documentation |
Internal page |
| Connecting related pages within your workspace |
Section anchor | Click 🔗 next to any heading | Deep links to specific parts of long pages |
Bookmark card |
| Important external resources with rich previews |
File download |
| PDFs, spreadsheets, or other downloadable attachments |
Email link |
| Contact links that open the reader's email client |
Linking to Internal Pages
Internal links are the most valuable type because they turn your workspace into a navigable knowledge base. When you link to another page, Quixli tracks the relationship bidirectionally:
- The source page shows the link in its content
- The target page shows a backlink at the bottom — "Referenced by: [your page]"
- If the target page's title changes, the link text updates automatically (unless you've customized it)
To create an internal link, press Cmd/Ctrl + K and start typing the page name instead of a URL. Quixli searches your workspace and shows matching pages. Select one and the link is created with the page's icon.
Page Mentions
For a more prominent reference, type @ followed by the page name. This inserts a page mention — an inline card that shows the page's title and a hover preview. Page mentions are ideal for callouts like "For setup instructions, see @Getting Started."
Section Anchors and Block Links
Sometimes you need to link to a specific section of a long page, not just the page itself:
Heading Anchors
Hover over any heading in the editor and you'll see a link icon (🔗) appear beside it. Click it to copy a URL that jumps directly to that heading. Share this URL externally or use it in an internal link to point readers to the exact section they need.
Block References
Every block in Quixli has a unique address. Click any block's drag handle (⋮⋮) and choose Copy Link to Block to get a URL that scrolls to and highlights that specific block. This is more precise than heading anchors and works for paragraphs, images, tables — anything.
Bookmark Cards
When you want to highlight an external resource — an article, a tool, a GitHub repository — a plain text link can feel underwhelming. Bookmark cards solve this by rendering a rich preview with the page's title, description, and thumbnail image.
Type /bookmark, paste the URL, and Quixli fetches the page's metadata to build the card automatically. Bookmark cards are especially useful in resource lists, reference sections, and "further reading" blocks.
File Downloads and Inline PDFs
Links don't always point to web pages. Sometimes you need to attach a file that readers can download:
- File attachment: Type
/fileand upload a PDF, spreadsheet, ZIP, or any other file. The block renders a download card showing the filename, file type icon, and file size. Clicking it downloads the file
- Inline PDF viewer: After uploading a PDF, toggle "View Inline" in the file block's settings. The PDF renders directly in the page with its own scroll and page navigation — readers can browse it without leaving your page
Link Settings
Click any existing link to open the link editor. Here you can change the destination URL, update the label text, and configure behavior:
Setting | Default | When to Change |
|---|---|---|
Open in new tab | On (external), Off (internal) | Turn off for external links you want to feel "in-flow" |
Nofollow | Off | Turn on for untrusted or sponsored external links (SEO) |
Remove link | N/A | Keeps the text but strips the link — useful for cleanup |
Writing Good Link Text
The text you wrap in a link matters more than you might think. Screen reader users often navigate by tabbing through links, hearing only the link text — not the surrounding sentence. Search engines also use link text to understand what the target page is about.
Pattern | Example | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
Descriptive | "Read the <u>migration guide for v3</u>" | Clear — reader knows the destination |
Generic | "Click <u>here</u> for details" | Vague — "here" means nothing out of context |
Full URL | "See <u>https://quixli.io/docs/v3/migration</u>" | Ugly — hard to read and takes up space |
Action-oriented | "<u>Download the Q4 report (PDF, 2.1 MB)</u>" | Best — tells reader what happens on click |
Managing Links Over Time
Links break. Pages move, external sites go offline, and internal pages get deleted. Quixli helps you keep your links healthy in two ways:
- Backlinks panel: Every page shows which other pages link to it. This helps you understand the impact of deleting or restructuring a page — if 15 pages link to it, you'll want to update those references
- Internal link auto-updates: When you rename a page, all internal links to it update their labels automatically (unless you've manually customized the link text)
For external links, periodically review pages with many outbound links to ensure they still point to live destinations. A broken link erodes trust — readers expect every link to work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I link to a specific heading on another page?
Yes. Create an internal link (Cmd/Ctrl + K → search for the page), then append #heading-slug to the URL. The heading slug is the heading text in lowercase with hyphens replacing spaces. Alternatively, navigate to the target page, click the 🔗 icon next to the heading, copy the URL, and paste it as the link destination.
What happens to links when I move a page to a different folder?
Internal links are ID-based, not path-based. Moving a page to a different folder doesn't break any existing links to it — they continue to work seamlessly.
Can I open links with a single click while editing?
In editing mode, clicking a link positions your cursor for editing. To follow the link, hold Cmd/Ctrl and click — it opens in a new tab. In read-only and shared views, links work with a single click as expected.
How do I remove a link without deleting the text?
Click the linked text to open the link editor, then click Unlink (or press Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + K). The text stays; only the hyperlink is removed.
Is there a limit to how many links I can add to a page?
No hard limit. However, pages dense with links can feel overwhelming to readers. Use links where they add genuine value — to define terms, cite sources, or provide next steps — and avoid linking every noun just because you can.