When linking to external resources, such as websites or documents, in DITA, it’s important to follow best practices to ensure that your content remains structured, user-friendly, and compliant with DITA standards. These best practices help you maintain the integrity and quality of your documentation. Here are some guidelines to consider:

Use Descriptive Link Text: When creating links, make sure to use descriptive link text that clearly conveys the purpose of the link. This helps readers understand where the link will take them. For example, if you are linking to a PDF document, use link text like “Download the User Manual” rather than generic text like “Click here.”

Specify Link Titles: Whenever possible, specify a title for your links. This title can provide additional context or information about the linked resource. In DITA, you can use the <link> element’s title attribute to achieve this. For example:

<link href="https://www.example.com/document.pdf" title="User Manual">Download the User Manual</link>

By following these best practices, you can create effective and user-friendly links to external resources within your DITA content.