The shape of a link is determined by five properties - `source`, `target`, `vertices`, `router` and `connector`.

#### Source and Target

The `source` and `target` properties have to be provided when creating a Link. Either a Point can be provided (with `x` and `y` properties) or a Cell (Element or Link, either directly or via an `id` property).

    link.source(new g.Point(100, 100));
    link.source({ x: 100, y: 100 });

    link.source(rect);
    link.source({ id: rect.id });
    link.source(link2);
    link.source({ id: link2.id });

If the end is specified as a Cell, a specific subelement on that cell may be identified for use as the link end. The `selector` property allows specifying the subelement with a selector string, while the `magnet` property uses magnet id, and the `port` property (on Elements only) uses the port id.

    link.source(rect, {
        selector: 'connectorSquare'
    });
    link.source(link2, {
        selector: 'midPointCircle'
    });

In any case, we need to obtain a single point from the object provided to the source/target property. That point is found according to additional properties provided to the function. The accepted modifier properties depend on the class of the provided object:

- `Point` or an object with `x` and `y` properties - coordinates of the point are used as the coordinates of the link's anchor directly. No modification of any kind. (Ignores anchor/linkAnchor/connectionPoint properties, if provided.)
- `Element` - the precise position of the link's end anchor depends on used `anchor` function, with additional optical modifications applied by `connectionPoint` function. (Ignores linkAnchor property, if provided.)
- `Link` - the precise position of the link's end anchor depends on provided `linkAnchor` function. (Ignores anchor/connectionPoint properties, if provided.)
- `Link` with specified `subelement`/`magnet` property - same as `Element` (see above).

The `connectionStrategy` paper option is also relevant to mention in this context. It determines what happens to the link end when it is modified due to specific kinds of user interaction.

#### Anchor

If the link end (source/target) is an Element (or a subelement/magnet of a Link – but not a Link itself), the precise position of the link end's anchor may be specified by the `anchor` property. Every link has two anchors; one at the source end and one at the target end.

A link end anchor is a point inside a given (sub)element that the link path wants to connect to at that source/target end - if it were not obstructed by the body of the element itself (it is the role of connectionPoints to then take the obstructing end element itself into account). Alongside link vertices, source and target anchors determine the basic link path. Then, it is the job of connectionPoints, routers, and connectors to modify that path to make it look good.

The anchor functions reference the end element to find the anchor point - e.g. the center of the end element, or its top-right corner. Notably, anchor functions also allow you to offset found anchor points by a custom distance in both dimensions from the standard position (e.g. 10 pixels to the right and 20 pixels below the center of an end element). Several pre-made anchors are provided inside the JointJS library in the `joint.anchors` namespace.

    link.source(rect, {
        anchor: {
            name: 'bottomLeft',
            args: {
                dx: 20,
                dy: -10
            }
        }
    });

If an anchor function is not provided, the `defaultAnchor` paper option is used instead. The `joint.anchors.center` function is used by default.

#### Link Anchor

If the link end (source/target) is a Link (not an Element or a Link subelement/magnet), the precise position of the link end's anchor may be specified by the `linkAnchor` property. If a link anchor method is used, no connectionPoints are applied.

A link end link anchor is a point on another link that this link's path wants to connect to at that source/target end. Alongside link vertices, source and target anchors determine the basic link path.

The link anchor functions reference the end link to find the anchor point - e.g. a point at a given ratio from the start, or the closest point. Several pre-made linkAnchors are provided inside the JointJS library in the `joint.linkAnchors` namespace.

    link.source(link2, {
        linkAnchor: {
            name: 'connectionRatio',
            args: {
                ratio: 0.25
            }
        }
    });

If a link anchor function is not provided, the `defaultLinkAnchor` paper option is used instead. The `joint.linkAnchors.connectionRatio` function with a value of `0.5` is used by default (i.e. the anchor is placed at the midpoint of a Link by default).

#### Connection Point

The link end's connection point may be specified by the `connectionPoint` property. Every link has two connection points; one at the source end and one at the target end.

A link connection point is the point at which the link path actually ends at, taking the end element into account. This point will always lie on the link path (the line connecting link anchors and vertices together, in order).

The connectionPoints are found by considering intersections between the link path and a desired feature of the end element (e.g. bounding box, shape boundary, anchor). Although connectionPoints are not capable of being offset off the link path (anchors should be used to modify the link path if this is required), they can be offset along the path - e.g. to form a gap between the element and the actual link. Several pre-made connectionPoints are provided in the JointJS library in the `joint.connectionPoints` namespace.

    link.source(rect, {
        connectionPoint: {
            name: 'boundary',
            args: {
                offset: 5
            }
        }
    });

If a connection point function is not provided, the `defaultConnectionPoint` paper option is used instead. The `joint.connectionPoints.bbox` function is used by default.

#### Connection Strategy

Related to anchors and connectionPoints is the `connectionStrategy` paper option. It allows you to specify which `anchor` and `connectionPoint` properties should be assigned to end elements in response to user interaction (e.g. in response to dragging a link arrowhead onto a new element). This setting is necessary because assigned `anchor` and `connectionPoint` are not preserved when the end element is reassigned by the user - and the paper's `defaultAnchor` and `defaultConnectionPoint` are used instead.

Several pre-made connectionStrategies are provided inside the JointJS library in the `joint.connectionStrategies` namespace, but you may find it necessary to create your own custom connection strategies. This is a paper-level setting; connectionStrategies not assigned on a link-by-link basis.

    paper.options.connectionStrategy = joint.connectionStrategies.pinAbsolute;

If a connection strategy is not provided, the `joint.connectionStrategies.useDefaults` function is used by default.

#### Vertices

The `vertices` array is an array of user-defined points for the link to pass through. Alongside the source and target anchors, the link vertices determine the basic link path. This skeleton path is then used for determining the link route. The vertices can be accessed with the `link.vertices()` function and related functions.

    link.vertices();
    link.vertices([{ x: 100, y: 120 }, { x: 150, y: 60 }]);

#### Router

Routers take an array of link vertices and transform them into an array of route points that the link should go through. This route is then used for generating the connection SVG path commands. The `router` property of a link can be accessed with the `link.router()` function.

A collection of pre-made routers is provided inside the JointJS library in the `joint.routers` namespace. This includes smart routers that are able to automatically avoid obstacles (elements) in their way.

    link.router('manhattan', {
        excludeEnds: ['source'],
        excludeTypes: ['myNamespace.MyCommentElement'],
        startDirections: ['top'],
        endDirections: ['bottom']
    });

If a router is not provided, the `defaultRouter` paper option is used instead. The `joint.routers.normal` function is used by default.

#### Connector

Connectors take an array of link route points and generate SVG path commands so that the link can be rendered. The `connector` property of a link can be accessed with the `link.connector()` function.

A collection of pre-made connectors is provided inside the JointJS library in the `joint.connectors` namespace.

    link.connector('rounded', {
        raw: true,
        radius: 20
    });

If a connector is not provided, the `defaultConnector` paper option is used instead. The `joint.connectors.normal` function is used by default.

Note that the modular architecture of JointJS allows mixing-and-matching connectors with routers as desired; for example, a link may be specified to use the `jumpover` connector on top of the `manhattan` router:

    var link = new joint.shapes.standard.Link();
    link.source(rect);
    link.target(rect2);
    link.router('manhattan');
    link.connector('jumpover');