Linking to Third-Party Sites From Microsoft Learn records a distinct Microsoft Learn authoring convention and keeps it scoped to that documentation environment rather than presenting it as a universal writing rule.
ReviewedEvidence1 sourceSectionWriting & Style
Quick answer
Use third-party links in Microsoft Learn selectively: link when the third party is the right source, obtain the required Microsoft signoff, review freshness, and make offsite navigation clear when context does not already do so.
Key details
Core Issuelinking to third-party sites from microsoft learn
RegisterMicrosoft Learn technical documentation
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
This page covers whether and how to send readers to a third-party site. The separate secure-link owner still governs use of HTTPS when the target supports it.
Further guidance
Content
Microsoft Learn says third-party links should be used selectively with accountability for who should tell the story, Microsoft signoff, freshness review, and clear offsite context when needed.
Purpose
Keep Microsoft Learn source readable, maintainable, accessible, and predictable while following current contributor-platform conventions.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
Use links in documentation — Contributor guide↗ (opens in a new tab)Microsoft · Current Microsoft Learn contributor guidance for documentation links, including file-relative and site-relative paths, split-article YML targets, bookmarks, XRef API links, reference-style links, explicit-anchor boundaries, and secure link requirements.
Linking From Microsoft Learn Includes With Longer Relative Paths records a distinct Microsoft Learn authoring convention and keeps it scoped to that documentation environment rather than presenting it as a universal writing rule.
Linking From Microsoft Learn Selectors records a distinct Microsoft Learn authoring convention and keeps it scoped to that documentation environment rather than presenting it as a universal writing rule.
Linking to Microsoft Learn Headings With Bookmark Links records a distinct Microsoft Learn authoring convention and keeps it scoped to that documentation environment rather than presenting it as a universal writing rule.
Linking to Microsoft Learn XRef Method Pages and Overloads records a distinct Microsoft Learn XRef authoring decision and consolidates tightly coupled syntax choices so the public guide stays useful without fragmenting one task into thin pages.
Linking to YML Files for Split Microsoft Learn Articles records a distinct Microsoft Learn authoring convention and keeps it scoped to that documentation environment rather than presenting it as a universal writing rule.
Avoiding HTML Tables in Microsoft Learn Markdown records a distinct Microsoft Learn authoring convention and keeps it scoped to that documentation environment rather than presenting it as a universal writing rule.
Avoiding Inline HTML in Microsoft Learn records a distinct Microsoft Learn authoring convention and keeps it scoped to that documentation environment rather than presenting it as a universal writing rule.
Choosing nameWithType and fullName in Microsoft Learn XRef Display Text records a distinct Microsoft Learn XRef authoring decision and consolidates tightly coupled syntax choices so the public guide stays useful without fragmenting one task into thin pages.
