use of links in messages

A question please, when you are typing messages and include a link to somewhere else, how does it become a useable link? Does just typing the correct address make it a real link?

I found this site a few months ago by way of Peter Reinhart's book about Artisan Baking and have been blown away with all the knowledge, very helpful advice and such interest in bread baking among all of you. I never imagined there were still so many people with this passion. Every day I just read with such thirst all the responses to such a variety of problems, a lot of my questions were pre-answered! And the site is so easy to get around in.

New comer, Jean P. from Virginia. (msbreadbaker)