Writing & StyleStyle guide

Using Absolute URLs for Non-Documentation Microsoft Properties

Using Absolute URLs for Non-Documentation Microsoft Properties records a distinct Microsoft Learn authoring convention and keeps it scoped to that documentation environment rather than presenting it as a universal writing rule.

Quick answer

When Microsoft Learn links to another Microsoft property that is not part of the technical documentation set, use an absolute URL and omit the locale.

Key details

Core Issueusing absolute urls for non-documentation microsoft properties
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Important caveats

Scope Boundary

This page is for non-documentation Microsoft properties. Links within the Learn documentation set remain governed by the existing file-relative or site-relative link owners.

Further guidance

Content

For a page on another Microsoft property, such as pricing or SLA content outside the technical documentation set, Microsoft Learn instructs authors to use an absolute URL and omit the locale.

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.

  1. 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.

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