href and onclick are two different HTML attributes that control what happens when a user clicks a link. href defines the target of a link, while onclick runs an action, usually via JavaScript.
The href attribute belongs to classic link building. It determines where a user is sent, for example to another page or to an external website. onclick, by contrast, is used to run additional functions on click, such as a tracking event, a popup or a dynamic interaction.
In practice the two are often combined. A link can therefore have a target URL and also trigger an action before or during the redirect.
Differences at a glance
- href: defines the target page of a link
- onclick: runs an action on click
- href works without JavaScript, onclick requires it
- Both can be used together in a single link
Significance for SEO and tracking
For SEO, href is decisive, because search engines such as Google only reliably recognise and evaluate real links with a target URL. Pure onclick links without href can be ignored by search engines.
At the same time, onclick is important for tracking and user analysis, for example to measure clicks. Ideally you use both sensibly: href for structure and SEO, onclick for additional functions and data.