Tag Types

The ThingLink editors provide 5 main tag formats to help you find the right layout for your tag content. Below you will find an image and description of each tag type along with simple examples.

Use the links below to quickly jump to:

• Multipurpose Text & media tag adapts its layout as you add content
• Embed tag allows embedding third-party iframes or YouTube/Vimeo videos
• Transit tag links ThingLink scenes together
• Text label tag displays text on hover
• Question tag displays a question and answer options
• Poll tag displays a poll
• Explanations of image and video cropping
• Text formatting options

Note: 3D model editor uses a different interface and tag types. For more information on how to edit 3D models, see 3D model tagging.

1. Text & media tag

This multipurpose tag adjusts the layout based on content, combining text, images, videos, links, and background audio. Explore the image below to learn its interface:

The text & media tag offers 11 layouts. Click "Change layout" at the top to switch the layout. Most are static, but the default layout adapts to your added content (see below). Read more about layouts here.

Description and Title

Filling in 'Title' and/or 'Description' creates a text tag. Text under 4 lines centers, while 4+ lines align left. This applies to links and images. Use alignment buttons for left, right, or center alignment.

Button URL and text

The link field creates a redirect button to another webpage when clicked. To add a link enter a URL into the field. If the 'button text' is empty, the button shows a shortened URL. If text is entered, it displays that text.

Images and Videos

Adding an image or video alone creates a media-only tag. Multiple media are navigable arrows. Combining media with text shows text alongside the media, depending on layout. Text over 7 lines becomes scrollable.

Please note that media will be cropped to fit aspect ratios. 

Each tag can also contain pre-recorded background audio that will play automatically. Alternatively, you can record your own voice directly into a tag. Learn more here.

2. Embed tag.

The embed tag allows you add third-party or ThingLink embed codes for interactive experiences within the scene, including:

• Videos from YouTube, Vimeo, or FlipGrid via a link
• Surveys and quizzes (e.g., Google Forms)
• Maps (e.g., Google Maps)
• Other ThingLink scenes to be viewed within in a tag – an alternative to transit tag described below
• SlideShare, or Google Slides presentations
• Webpages (e.g., Wikipedia, though some sites may block embedding)

Most web content can be embedded via iframe code, though functionality may vary. This article covers how to get the embed code for some popular use cases.

3. Transit tag.

This tag redirects viewers from the current scene to another ThingLink scene. When hovered over, it shows a thumbnail of the destination scene. You can add a 30-character description to indicate where it leads.

Check out how this works below, and see this article to learn more about the preview icon update.

Once the viewer transitions from the first scene in your tour, two buttons will be added to the top left corner:

• 'Back' button, which takes the viewer to the previous scene
• 'Home' button, which takes the viewer to the first scene in your tour

In a tour, all scenes are accessible via the cards ('Related') button at the bottom right. Viewers can search for scenes and the visited scenes are marked by a small white tick icon.

Conditional transitions

For escape rooms for example or ensuring viewers read the tags, add a question they must answer before using the transit tag. An example:

Toggle the 'Conditional transition' option and fill out the 'Question' and 'Correct answers' fields. If you wish to enter multiple correct answers, use a comma to separate them.

Check out this article to learn more.

4. Text label tag.

This tag displays up to 100 symbols when hovered over. Useful for annotating objects or presenting short texts at a glance. 

5. Question tag 

Question tags allow you to display a question with multiple answer options, where only one option is correct. You can set a message to display for a wrong answer and a different message for a correct answer.

Please note that this tag is not compatible with VR and currently allows the viewer to proceed to the next tag even if the answer is incorrect.

Learn more about the question tag type here.

6. Poll tag

Poll tags allow you to collect anonymous feedback or viewers' opinions using single-choice questions. Click the red question mark icon in the example below!

• No character limit for questions or answers; short answers (up to 80 characters) are recommended.
• Unlimited number of answers allowed.
• All answers are anonymous.
• Each viewer can vote once, however, because of the anonymity, they may vote multiple times using different browsers or private tabs.
• Poll results show after voting.

You can check the answers by opening the tag.

How ThingLink crops and adapts images and videos to fit into tags

By default, the editor crops images and videos to fit 8:9 or 16:9 aspect ratios. 8:9 ratio is for media with a title or a link button, while 16:9 ratio is for plain media, media + description or extended media view.

To avoid media being cropped, go to in-editor settings, 'Tag customization' and use the 'Fit tag media' toggle:

Note that this setting does not work with custom tag layouts.

Text formatting options

You can use markdown to style your text in the 'Description' field in the text & media tag as well as the text label tag. See this article for more information.