Why is the Webflow URL being added in front of the external URL when I have a link block for an external URL? Is this not supported in the free version of Webflow?
In the Webflow platform, when you create a link block and set the link to an external URL, by default, Webflow adds the Webflow URL in front of the external URL. This behavior is intentional and not specific to the free version of Webflow. Let me explain why this happens.
When you use the link block element in Webflow, it is designed to work with internal links by default (links within your Webflow site). This is why Webflow automatically adds the Webflow URL in front of the external URL, ensuring that users are redirected to the external page within the same browser tab.
By adding the Webflow URL before the external URL, Webflow acts as a proxy and facilitates the transfer of data between the user's browser and the external site. This helps ensure a seamless transition and allows Webflow to provide additional features like page transitions and smooth scrolling.
However, if you want to bypass this behavior and have the external link open directly without the Webflow URL, there is a simple workaround. You can use a regular link element instead of the link block. The regular link element allows you to specify the entire external URL as the link without the Webflow URL being added. To do this, simply drag a regular link element onto your page, set the URL to the external link, and style it according to your design needs.
It's worth noting that this workaround may restrict some features that are available with the link block, such as hover effects, dynamic data binding, and transitions. So, evaluate your requirements and consider the impact before making a choice.
In summary, the behavior of Webflow automatically adding the Webflow URL in front of external URLs when using the link block is intentional to provide seamless transitions and additional features. However, you can use a regular link element if you want to bypass this behavior and have the external link open directly.