Link vs. Connection — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 25, 2023
A link is a tangible or conceptual bond between two entities, while a connection implies a relationship or association between them.
Difference Between Link and Connection
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A link refers to a direct bond or tie, either physical or conceptual, between two entities. For instance, a chain consists of several links. On the other hand, a connection implies a deeper or broader relationship or association between two things, often less tangible than a link.
In the realm of technology, a link often refers to an element in web pages that directs to another location, such as a hyperlink. A connection, however, can mean the state of devices being attached, as when a phone connects to a Wi-Fi network.
In a more abstract sense, a link can be seen as a single element of a larger chain or sequence, like a DNA link in a genetic chain. A connection, conversely, can signify an emotional or intellectual relationship, such as the connection between two people who share a bond.
The word link might suggest a more concrete or tangible association. For example, the link between two train cars allows them to move in unison. In contrast, a connection can be perceived as more inherent or intrinsic, such as the connection between a cause and its effect.
To put it another way, while all links can be connections, not all connections are necessarily links. Links are often specific, tangible, or direct, whereas connections can be broader, encompassing a variety of relationships or associations.
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Comparison Chart
Nature
More tangible or direct.
Broader, can be intangible.
Usage
Often refers to a bond in a sequence or chain.
Implies a relationship or association between entities.
Examples
Hyperlinks, chain links.
Emotional bond, network connection.
Scope
Specific or singular in context.
Can be more general or multifaceted.
Physical vs. Abstract
Can be both, but often more physical.
Often more abstract, but can also be physical.
Compare with Definitions
Link
A segment or part of a chain.
The weakest link in a chain determines its strength.
Connection
The act of joining or being joined.
The puzzle pieces made a perfect connection.
Link
A means of joining or connecting things.
The bridge serves as a vital link between the two cities.
Connection
A relationship in which one thing is related to another.
The connection between smoking and lung disease is well-documented.
Link
A relationship or association.
The link between the two crimes remains unclear.
Connection
A point where two things are joined.
The plumber fixed the connection under the sink.
Link
One of the rings or loops forming a chain.
Connection
An association or relationship between individuals.
She has many business connections in the city.
Link
A unit in a connected series of units
Links of sausage.
One link in a molecular chain.
Connection
The act of connecting.
Link
A unit in a transportation or communications system.
Connection
The state of being connected.
Link
A connecting element; a tie or bond
Grandparents, our link with the past.
Connection
One that connects; a link
Made a connection between the two pipes.
Link
An association; a relationship
The Alumnae Association is my link to the school's present administration.
Connection
An association or relationship
An obvious connection between the two crimes.
Link
A causal, parallel, or reciprocal relationship; a correlation
Researchers have detected a link between smoking and heart disease.
Connection
The logical or intelligible ordering of words or ideas; coherence.
Link
A cufflink.
Connection
Reference or relation to something else; context
In this connection, the agreement can be seen as a step toward peace.
Link
A unit of length used in surveying, equal to 0.01 chain, 7.92 inches, or about 20.12 centimeters.
Connection
A person, especially one of influence or importance, with whom one is associated, as by kinship or common interests
Used her connections to land a job.
Link
A rod or lever transmitting motion in a machine.
Connection
A conveyance or scheduled run providing continuing service between means of transportation
Missed my connection in Miami.
Link
(Computers)A graphical item or segment of text in a webpage or other electronic document that, when clicked, causes another webpage or section of the same webpage to be displayed
That newspaper's homepage includes links to numerous government resources. Also called hotlink, hyperlink.
Connection
A physical link, such as by wire or fiber-optic cable, between two or more points in a telecommunications system
Established a connection to the internet.
Link
A torch formerly used for lighting one's way in the streets.
Connection
A means or channel of communication
Couldn't hear due to the bad phone connection.
Link
To put together physically, as with links
Linked the rings to form a chain.
Connection
A drug dealer.
Link
To connect, relate, or associate
Linked the suspect to the crime.
Connection
A purchase of illegal drugs.
Link
To make or have a link to (another webpage or electronic document)
The blog links important news stories from across the web.
Connection
(uncountable) The act of connecting.
Link
To make a link in (a webpage or electronic document)
The teacher linked the class website to an online map.
Connection
The point at which two or more things are connected.
The connection between overeating and obesity
My headache has no connection with me going out last night.
Link
To be or become joined together physically
The molecules linked to form a polymer.
Connection
A feeling of understanding and ease of communication between two or more people.
As we were the only people in the room to laugh at the joke, I felt a connection between us.
Link
To be or become connected, related, or associated
Their business has linked up with ours.
Connection
An established communications or transportation link.
Computers linked by a network connection
I was talking to him, but there was lightning and we lost the connection.
Link
To make or have a link to a webpage or electronic document
The shocking news story was linked to by many blogs. The article linked to photos of the damage.
Connection
(transport) A transfer from one transportation vehicle to another in scheduled transportation service
The bus was late so he missed his connection at Penn Station and had to wait six hours for the next train.
Link
To follow a link in a webpage or electronic document
With a click of the mouse, I linked to the museum's website.
Connection
A kinship relationship between people.
Link
A connection between places, people, events, things, or ideas.
The mayor’s assistant serves as the link to the media.
Connection
An individual who is related to oneself, through either family or business.
I have some connections in Lancashire.
Link
One element of a chain or other connected series.
The third link of the silver chain needs to be resoldered.
The weakest link.
Connection
(mathematics) A set of sets that contains the empty set, all one-element sets for any element that is included in any of the sets, and the union of any group of sets that are elements where the intersections of those sets is non-empty.
Link
Abbreviation of hyperlink
The link on the page points to the sports scores.
Connection
Coherence; lack of disjointedness
Link
(computing) The connection between buses or systems.
A by-N-link is composed of N lanes.
Connection
The description for a Methodist denomination as a whole, as opposed to its constituent churches, circuits, districts and conferences.
Link
(mathematics) A space comprising one or more disjoint knots.
Connection
Sexual intercourse
Link
(Sussex) a thin wild bank of land splitting two cultivated patches and often linking two hills.
Connection
(slang) A drug dealer.
Link
(figurative) an individual person or element in a system
Connection
The act of connecting, or the state of being connected; the act or process of bringing two things into contact; junction; union; as, the connection between church and state is inescapable; the connection of pipes of different diameters requires an adapter.
Link
Anything doubled and closed like a link of a chain.
Connection
That which connects or joins together; bond; tie.
Link
A sausage that is not a patty.
Connection
Any relationship between things or events; association; alliance; as, a causal connection between interest rates and stock prices.
He [Algazel] denied the possibility of a known connection between cause and effect.
The eternal and inseparable connection between virtue and happiness.
Any sort of connection which is perceived or imagined between two or more things.
Link
(kinematics) Any one of the several elementary pieces of a mechanism, such as the fixed frame, or a rod, wheel, mass of confined liquid, etc., by which relative motion of other parts is produced and constrained.
Connection
A relation; esp. a person connected with another by marriage rather than by blood; - used in a loose and indefinite, and sometimes a comprehensive, sense.
Link
(engineering) Any intermediate rod or piece for transmitting force or motion, especially a short connecting rod with a bearing at each end; specifically (in steam engines) the slotted bar, or connecting piece, to the opposite ends of which the eccentric rods are jointed, and by means of which the movement of the valve is varied, in a link motion.
Connection
The persons or things that are connected; as, a business connection; the Methodist connection.
Men elevated by powerful connection.
At the head of a strong parliamentary connection.
Whose names, forces, connections, and characters were perfectly known to him.
Link
(surveying) The length of one joint of Gunter's chain, being the hundredth part of it, or 7.92 inches, the chain being 66 feet in length.
Connection
Something that connects other objects.
Link
(chemistry) A bond of affinity, or a unit of valence between atoms; applied to a unit of chemical force or attraction.
Connection
Usually plural) an acquaintance or acquaintances who are influential or in a position of power and to whom you are connected in some way (as by family or friendship); as, he has powerful connections.
Link
(in the plural) The windings of a river; the land along a winding stream.
Connection
A communications channel; as, my cell phone had a bad connection.
Link
(broadcasting) An introductory cue.
Connection
A vehicle in which one may continue a journey after debarking from another vehicle; the departing vehicle of a connection{9}; as, my connection leaves four hours after my arrival; I missed my connection.
Link
(obsolete) A torch, used to light dark streets.
Connection
The scheduled arrival of one vehicle and departure of a second, sufficiently close in time and place to allow the departing vehicle serve as a means of continuing a journey begun or continued in the first vehicle; as, we can get a connection at Newark to continue on to Paris; - most commonly used of airplanes, trains, and buses arriving and departing at the same terminal.
Link
(transitive) To connect two or more things.
Connection
The transfer of a passenger from one vehicle to another to continue a journey; as, the connection was made in Copenhagen; - most commonly of scheduled transportation on common carriers.
Link
To contain a hyperlink to another page.
My homepage links to my wife's.
Connection
A vendor who can supply desired materials at a favorable price, or under conditions when other sources are unavailable; as, to get a bargain from one's connection in the jewelry trade; to have connections for the purchase of marijuana; - often used in the pl..
Link
To supply (somebody) with a hyperlink; to direct by means of a link.
Haven't you seen his Web site? I'll link you to it.
Connection
The process of bringing ideas or events together in memory or imagination.
Link
To post a hyperlink to.
Stop linking those unfunny comics all the time!
Connection
A relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it);
There was a connection between eating that pickle and having that nightmare
Link
(transitive) To demonstrate a correlation between two things.
Connection
The state of being connected;
The connection between church and state is inescapable
Link
(compilation) To combine objects generated by a compiler into a single executable.
Connection
An instrumentality that connects;
He soldered the connection
He didn't have the right connector between the amplifier and the speakers
Link
To meet with someone.
Connection
(usually plural) a person who is influential and to whom you are connected in some way (as by family or friendship);
He has powerful connections
Link
To skip or trip along smartly; to go quickly.
Connection
The process of bringing ideas or events together in memory or imagination;
Conditioning is a form of learning by association
Link
A torch made of tow and pitch, or the like.
Connection
A connecting shape
Link
A single ring or division of a chain.
Connection
A supplier (especially of narcotics)
Link
Hence: Anything, whether material or not, which binds together, or connects, separate things; a part of a connected series; a tie; a bond.
The link of brotherhood, by whichOne common Maker bound me to the kind.
And so by double links enchained themselves in lover's life.
Connection
Shifting from one form of transportation to another;
The plane was late and he missed his connection in Atlanta
Link
Anything doubled and closed like a link; as, a link of horsehair.
Connection
The act of bringing two things into contact (especially for communication);
The joining of hands around the table
There was a connection via the internet
Link
Any one of the several elementary pieces of a mechanism, as the fixed frame, or a rod, wheel, mass of confined liquid, etc., by which relative motion of other parts is produced and constrained.
Connection
The state of being connected to the internet or another network.
My phone lost its connection in the tunnel.
Link
Any intermediate rod or piece for transmitting force or motion, especially a short connecting rod with a bearing at each end; specifically (Steam Engine), the slotted bar, or connecting piece, to the opposite ends of which the eccentric rods are jointed, and by means of which the movement of the valve is varied, in a link motion.
Link
A bond of affinity, or a unit of valence between atoms; - applied to a unit of chemical force or attraction.
Link
Sausages; - because linked together.
Link
A hill or ridge, as a sand hill, or a wooded or turfy bank between cultivated fields, etc.
Link
A winding of a river; also, the ground along such a winding; a meander; - usually in pl.
The windings or "links" of the Forth above and below Stirling are extremely tortuous.
Link
Sand hills with the surrounding level or undulating land, such as occur along the seashore, a river bank, etc.
Golf may be played on any park or common, but its original home is the "links" or common land which is found by the seashore, where the short close tuft, the sandy subsoil, and the many natural obstacles in the shape of bents, whins, sand holes, and banks, supply the conditions which are essential to the proper pursuit of the game.
Link
Hence, any such piece of ground where golf is played; a golf course.
Link
To connect or unite with a link or as with a link; to join; to attach; to unite; to couple.
All the tribes and nations that composed it [the Roman Empire] were linked together, not only by the same laws and the same government, but by all the facilities of commodious intercourse, and of frequent communication.
Link
To be connected.
No one generation could link with the other.
Link
The means of connection between things linked in series
Link
A fastener that serves to join or link;
The walls are held together with metal links placed in the wet mortar during construction
Link
The state of being connected;
The connection between church and state is inescapable
Link
A connecting shape
Link
A unit of length equal to 1/100 of a chain
Link
(computing) an instruction that connects one part of a program or an element on a list to another program or list
Link
A channel for communication between groups;
He provided a liaison with the guerrillas
Link
A two-way radio communication system (usually microwave); part of a more extensive telecommunication network
Link
An interconnecting circuit between two or more locations for the purpose of transmitting and receiving data
Link
Make a logical or causal connection;
I cannot connect these two pieces of evidence in my mind
Colligate these facts
I cannot relate these events at all
Link
Connect, fasten, or put together two or more pieces;
Can you connect the two loudspeakers?
Tie the ropes together
Link arms
Link
Be or become joined or united or linked;
The two streets connect to become a highway
Our paths joined
The travelers linked up again at the airport
Link
Link with or as with a yoke;
Yoke the oxen together
Link
A unit in a connected series of events or ideas.
There's a direct link between diet and health.
Link
An interactive reference to another document or webpage.
Click on this link to visit our website.
Common Curiosities
In technology, what does a link represent?
In tech, a link often refers to an element like a hyperlink, directing to another location.
What is a chain link?
It's a segment or component of a chain, often made of metal.
Are connections always physical?
No, connections can be emotional, intellectual, or other abstract relationships.
How is a connection different from a link?
A connection implies a broader relationship or association between entities, often less tangible than a link.
How can connection refer to relationships?
It can denote a bond or association between individuals, like having a personal connection.
What does link generally refer to?
A link usually refers to a direct bond or tie between two entities, either physical or conceptual.
What does a connection in technology typically mean?
In technology, a connection can mean devices being attached, like connecting to Wi-Fi.
Can a link be abstract?
Yes, a link can be conceptual, like the link between actions and consequences.
How is a network connection established?
Through protocols and pathways that allow devices to communicate.
Can link and connection be used interchangeably?
In some contexts, they can, but they often have nuanced differences in meaning.
What does a hyperlink do?
A hyperlink directs users to another location on the web when clicked.
Is every link necessarily a connection?
While all links can be seen as connections, not all connections are links.
Can a link suggest a cause-and-effect relationship?
Yes, as in "the link between diet and health."
Can connections be transient?
Yes, like a brief connection between two people meeting momentarily.
What can break a link?
Physical force, deterioration, or other factors can break a tangible link, while misunderstandings can break conceptual ones.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
