# Link to a message or conversation
Zulip makes it easy to share links to messages, topics, and channels. You can
link from one Zulip [conversation](/help/reading-conversations) to another, or
share links to Zulip conversations in issue trackers, emails, or other external
tools.
## Link to a channel or topic within Zulip
Zulip automatically creates links to channels and topics in messages you send.
The easiest way to link to a channel or topic is:
{start_tabs}
1. Type `#` followed by the one or more letters of the channel name.
1. Choose the desired channel from the auto-complete menu. The link will be
automatically formatted for you.
1. If linking to a topic, type `>` after selecting a channel as
described above, followed by one or more letters of the topic name.
1. Choose the desired topic from the auto-complete menu. The link will be
automatically formatted for you.
!!! tip ""
When you paste a topic or channel link into Zulip, it is automatically
formatted for you. You can paste as plain text if you prefer with
Ctrl + Shift + V.
{end_tabs}
Alternatively, it is possible to manually format channel and topic links:
```
Channel: #**channel name**
Topic: #**channel name>topic name**
```
## Link to Zulip from anywhere
All URLs in Zulip are designed to be shareable. Copying the URL from
the browser's address bar will work for all views, including searches.
### Get a link to a specific message
This copies to your clipboard a permanent link to the message,
displayed in its thread (i.e. topic view for messages in a channel).
Viewing a topic via a message link will never mark messages as read.
These links will still work even when the message is
[moved to another topic](/help/move-content-to-another-topic)
or [channel](/help/move-content-to-another-channel) or
if its [topic is resolved](/help/resolve-a-topic).
Zulip uses the same permanent link syntax when [quoting a
message](/help/quote-and-reply).
{start_tabs}
{tab|desktop-web}
{!message-actions-menu.md!}
1. Click **Copy link to message**.
!!! tip ""
If using Zulip in a browser, you can also click on the timestamp
of a message, and copy the URL from your browser's address bar.
{end_tabs}
### Get a link to a specific topic
{start_tabs}
{tab|desktop-web}
{!topic-actions.md!}
1. Click **Copy link to topic**.
!!! tip ""
If using Zulip in a browser, you can also click on a topic name,
and copy the URL from your browser's address bar.
{tab|mobile}
{!topic-long-press-menu.md!}
1. Tap **Copy link to topic**.
{!topic-long-press-menu-tip.md!}
{end_tabs}
### Get a link to a specific channel
{start_tabs}
{tab|desktop-web}
{!channel-actions.md!}
1. Click **Copy link to channel**.
{tab|mobile}
{!channel-long-press-menu.md!}
1. Tap **Copy link to channel**.
{!channel-long-press-menu-tip.md!}
{end_tabs}
## Related articles
* [Add a custom linkifier](/help/add-a-custom-linkifier)
* [Message formatting](/help/format-your-message-using-markdown)
* [Linking to your organization](/help/linking-to-zulip)