The notion of links or connections among nodes or pieces of information sorted in a computer has changed throughout the brief history of hypertext. Originally, links were either thought to be semantic or functional in nature; that is, they were between meaningful information or they performed certain activities. Recently, links are beginning to be thought about in terms of their rhetorical implications, thus expanding and complicating the capabilities of links. It is only through a full history that a more complete understanding of linking can be achieved, particularly among professional and technical communicators who may make linking choices in everyday documents. How can a writer contribute to the already "authored" hypertext, for example? In 1987 Jeff Conklin provided hypertext with its most complete understanding of links since its original notions initiated by Vannevar Bush. Conklin cites three major categories of links: (1) referential; (2) organizational (hierarchical links); and (3) keyword (implicit connections through topic). Based on Conklin's definitions, these categories really make up two kinds of links: those that link explicitly and those that link implicitly. Referential and organizational links are explicit in that they are derived from content or structure of information, whereas keyword links are implicit because they derive from the topical elements of the information stored within a hypertext. Steven DeRose expands on Conklin's work; his taxonomy of links includes 12 different kinds. Paul Kahn argues that the subjective or interactive elements of the hypertext must also be given consideration. (Contains four figures.) (TB)