G'day Rolf,

My aim was not to enumerate all of the better choices; but rather, as stated, to provide a (singular) "better choice". The main thrust of that paragraph was absolute vs. relative links.

Years ago, on a number of occasions, I fell afoul of using [node_name] due to some conflict; e.g. a SoPW page and a Monk's username shared the same "node_name". Since then, I've preferred links which contain a "node_id"; this makes the link unique and I don't have to spend any time checking for, and possibly making adjustments to handle, conflicts.

I will often use both a "node_id" and a "node_name"; e.g. [id://node_id|node_name]. Examples include:

• wanting a shorter version of the full name (e.g. [id://1177642|SSCCE]);
• honouring a Monk's signature name (e.g. [id://708738|Rolf] used above);
• and so on.

For some years, replies have included a [id://node_id] text; this makes it very easy (via copy-paste) to generate content like:

Refer to my [id://some_id|first] and [id://other_id|third] responses.

There are many ways to provide a link. "What shortcuts can I use for linking to other information?" has details. Here's some examples:

• [id://1217124] --> The Hermitage
• [id://1217124|The Hermitage] --> The Hermitage
• [href://?node_id=1217124|The Hermitage] --> The Hermitage
• [link://?node_id=1217124|The Hermitage] --> The Hermitage
• [The Hermitage] --> The Hermitage

I wouldn't consider [The Hermitage] to be the "second best choice". I'd rank all of those containing a "node_id" as superior.

> I wouldn't consider The Hermitage to be the "second best choice". I'd rank all of those containing a "node_id" as superior.

Semantics ... that depends how one groups and counts. All using node_id are the best choice for me, for the same reasons.

But often you need to reference a node by name without wanting to look up the ID.

Hence one types SSCCE or kcott - i.e. [SSCCE] or [kcott] - because experience showed it's unique.

Cheers Rolf
_{(addicted to the 𐍀𐌴𐍂𐌻 Programming Language :)
Wikisyntax for the Monastery}

edit

I have to admit that [link://...] is irritating me ... at least it doesn't seem to be documented in What shortcuts can I use for linking to other information?

update

ok... according to handlelinks settings it's just an alias to [href://...]

"I have to admit that [link://...] is irritating me ... at least it doesn't seem to be documented in What shortcuts can I use for linking to other information?"

Scroll down to General-Purpose Linking (about two-thirds down the page) to see:

link is an alias for href.

— Ken