# Meaning of "Automatically Parse Links in Text?" **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 17, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-automatically-parse-links-in-text/707505 "2014-12-17T17:53:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Idilia\_Dubb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c2a13f/32.png) [@Idilia\_Dubb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idilia_Dubb)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-automatically-parse-links-in-text/707505/1 "2014-12-17T17:53:38Z")
When you go to send a reply, under the Additional Options area is an option “Automatically Parse Links in Text.” I think I know what “to parse” means but I don’t understand this option. What does it do? Should I be using it? 😕 Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-automatically-parse-links-in-text/707505/2 "2014-12-17T18:16:21Z")
When you have a link typed out in your text, like [www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com) for example, if you have “Automatically parse links in text” checked, the board software will automatically add URL tags around the link, and the link will turn into [www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com) like so. If you don’t have it checked, then it remains plain text, like [www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-automatically-parse-links-in-text/707505/3 "2014-12-17T18:16:52Z")
All it means is that when the box is checked, hyperlinks are actual links, like this: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=postreply&t=743804](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=postreply&t=743804) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-automatically-parse-links-in-text/707505/4 "2014-12-17T18:18:10Z")
It just means that if you post a link, the board software will recognize it as such and automatically surround it with the tags and make it into a clickable link. It’s checked by default, so you don’t have to do anything. Sometimes posters will uncheck it in certain circumstances, like if they want to post a link that may not be safe for work. Wow. Double ninja’d. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-automatically-parse-links-in-text/707505/5 "2014-12-17T20:34:32Z")
Um, every link **engineer\_comp\_geek** typed in turned into a link, even his last one which he clearly intended to be plain text. I think viglink is overriding anything “automatically parse links in text” is doing. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-automatically-parse-links-in-text/707505/6 "2014-12-17T23:17:49Z")
> [@jimbuff314](#): > > Um, every link **engineer\_comp\_geek** typed in turned into a link, even his last one which he clearly intended to be plain text. I think viglink is overriding anything “automatically parse links in text” is doing. Yeah I think that’s what happened. Kinda makes his post funny. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-automatically-parse-links-in-text/707505/7 "2014-12-17T23:53:07Z")
yup vigilink is automatically adding in links ☹ ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-automatically-parse-links-in-text/707505/8 "2014-12-18T00:57:41Z")
> [@jimbuff314](#): > > I think viglink is overriding anything “automatically parse links in text” is doing. Pfft. I forgot about viglink. It looks right on my computer, but then I’m running a script blocker so I don’t see viglink links. Technically viglink isn’t overriding the checkbox, it’s adding in the links after the fact. The post, as stored in the SDMB, does not contain the links. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-automatically-parse-links-in-text/707505/9 "2014-12-18T01:59:30Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > yup vigilink is automatically adding in links ☹ You can opt out [here.](http://www.viglink.com/opt-out/) I just did so and the links in **engineer\_comp\_geek’s** post disappeared when I refreshed the page. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-automatically-parse-links-in-text/707505/10 "2014-12-18T02:00:10Z")
You can opt out of VigLink. I’m not going to link to it, but you can Google “VigLink remove.” Yeah, it puts a cookie on your computer and probably tracks your info, anyway, but you won’t see non-parsed links become clickable and you won’t go through other redirects on your way to an off-Dope webpage. Curses! Ninja’d again! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-automatically-parse-links-in-text/707505/11 "2014-12-18T02:47:55Z")
Personally, I prefer blocking it to opting out, for the sake of principle. Plus, you aren’t safe if you aren’t running an adblock or script block here. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-automatically-parse-links-in-text/707505/12 "2014-12-18T06:38:22Z")
This viglink (must be short for vigilante linker) seems to be a pain in the ass. There was a thread here in ATMB about it just a few weeks ago. I use the ultimate script blocker: I run my browser with JavaScript completely disabled except when I know that I actually need it. IMHO this massive improves my browsing experience. ---
**Author:** ![Idilia\_Dubb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c2a13f/32.png) [@Idilia\_Dubb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idilia_Dubb)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-automatically-parse-links-in-text/707505/13 "2014-12-18T10:00:03Z")
Thank you, everybody, for the explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-automatically-parse-links-in-text/707505/14 "2014-12-18T10:04:36Z")
I would be happier if I hadn’t read **Engineer\_comp\_geek**'s post. I had to clean my glasses 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-automatically-parse-links-in-text/707505/15 "2014-12-19T18:46:40Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Plus, you aren’t safe if you aren’t running an adblock or script block here. It burns when I pee.