Using Secure External Links 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.
ReviewedEvidence1 sourceSectionWriting & Style
Quick answer
Use secure `https` links in Microsoft Learn whenever the target supports HTTPS.
Key details
Core Issueusing secure external links in microsoft learn
RegisterMicrosoft Learn technical documentation
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
Microsoft states the secure-link rule for Learn links generally. This page does not claim HTTPS support when a target genuinely lacks it, and it does not alter separate guidance about link text, locales, or docset-relative paths.
Further guidance
Content
Use secure `https` links in Microsoft Learn whenever the target supports HTTPS.
Purpose
Keep Microsoft Learn source readable, maintainable, reusable, 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.
Using Reference-Style Links 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.
Using Capitalized INCLUDE Syntax 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.
Using File-Relative Links for 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.
Using Next-Step Action Buttons 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.
Using One H1 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.
Using Site-Relative Links for 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.
Using Standard Conceptual Images 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.
Using XRef Links for Microsoft Learn API References records a distinct Microsoft Learn authoring convention and keeps it scoped to that documentation environment rather than presenting it as a universal writing rule.
