filehyperlinkmarkdown

How link to any local file with markdown syntax?

I have a local markdown file containing several links and I want that links head to local file like pdf.

I use the following syntax:

[my link](file:///C:/my_file.pdf)

But when I open my markdown file into a Firefox page and click on the link, nothing happens.

What exactly have I missed? Is it possible to open local file?

Solution

  • How are you opening the rendered Markdown?

    If you host it over HTTP, i.e. you access it via http:// or https://, most modern browsers will refuse to open local links, e.g. with file://. This is a security feature:

    For security purposes, Mozilla applications block links to local files (and directories) from remote files. This includes linking to files on your hard drive, on mapped network drives, and accessible via Uniform Naming Convention (UNC) paths. This prevents a number of unpleasant possibilities, including:

    • Allowing sites to detect your operating system by checking default installation paths
    • Allowing sites to exploit system vulnerabilities (e.g., C:\con\con in Windows 95/98)
    • Allowing sites to detect browser preferences or read sensitive data

    There are some workarounds listed on that page, but my recommendation is to avoid doing this if you can.