SECTION V. Web Publications Conventions
O. Use of mailto tags
STANDARD:
The mailto tag can be used to activate a client-side email application. However, the email address should be spelled out in the text of the link. Email address that are spelled out may contain a construct that foils spamming software that trolls web sites collecting email addresses.
Explanation:
Not all web visitors have an email client that allows them to utilize the mailto feature. Some visitors will prefer to copy and paste an email address into a web based email client such as hotmail and Yahoo!. Spelling out the email address allows them to do so.
Example: john.a.smith@uwrf.edu
If you wish to foil spammers that troll our Web site looking to exploit email addresses you could publish the email address as john.smith-at-uwrf.edu
The code would look like this <mailto:john.smith@yahoo.com> john.smith-at-yahoo.com</a> Those visitors who copy and paste the email client into a web will have to correct the address by replacing the “-at-“ with “@” before sending.
