Navigation Question

Hey people! I have just started using Lemmy and have have got a basic feel for how it works ok. The one thing that confuses me is the navigation using the exclamation mark, like '!linux@lemmy.ml'

All the help blogs say go to search in your home instance and type !linux@lemmy.ml', but why would I do that. If I know the name of the community I want why not just go to the address bar of my home instance and add '/c/linux@lemmy.ml'.

Isn't that easier, with less steps? Can someone explain the benefit of the '!' addressing.

Cheers everyone!

13 points · 5 comments · view on lemmy.world

5 Comments

hsl@wayfarershaven.eu · 15 pts · 3y

This is a support question - please check the sidebar for a list of communities which offer support. Removing per rule #3.

buckykat@lemmy.fmhy.ml · 12 pts · 3y (1 reply)

the ! addressing allows you to post a link that anybody can click to get their instance's version of the community link. So for example, !linux@lemmy.ml posted anywhere on lemmy becomes a link to https://lemmy.fmhy.ml/c/linux@lemmy.ml for me, but the exact same link is a link to https://aussie.zone/c/linux@lemmy.ml for you

CommunityLinkFixer@lemmings.world · 3 pts · 3y

Hi there! Looks like you linked to a Lemmy community using a URL instead of its name, which doesn't work well for people on different instances. Try fixing it like this: !linux@lemmy.ml, !linux@lemmy.ml

About12@aussie.zone · 3 pts · 3y

Perfect! That makes sense now, thanks alot for your help much appreciated! Cheers 👍