A generalized hyperlinking system interactively creates hyperlinks one a time or automatically in mass production, statically at authoring time or dynamically at browsing time. A Generalized Hyperlink Specification Language (GHSL) allows for the author to specify patterns and contexts for identifying sources and destinations of links in all media and define link information as interfaces between hyperlinking modules. The generalized automatic hyperlinking system includes a source identifier, a source anchor generator, an initial semi-link generator, an intermediate destination identifier, an intermediate anchor generator, an intermediate link generator, an intermediate semi-link generator, a destination identifier, a final semi-link generator, a final link generator, link management, a link database, a link browser, a link interpreter and a document browser.