diff --git a/server b/server
index 52ca7446..20f226f5 160000
--- a/server
+++ b/server
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 52ca7446cce0c15095d46519995e7478e2b6eca5
+Subproject commit 20f226f5d85e5df93691b8a834588bac54969e8c
diff --git a/web/src/pages/add_table/state.rs b/web/src/pages/add_table/state.rs
index 1ec2e174..ebb8fdb7 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/add_table/state.rs
+++ b/web/src/pages/add_table/state.rs
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ pub(crate) struct BuilderForm {
     #[serde(default)]
     pub gtin_type_input: String,
     #[serde(default)]
+    pub link_table_input: String,
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub decimal_precision_input: String,
     #[serde(default)]
     pub decimal_scale_input: String,
@@ -96,6 +98,7 @@ impl BuilderForm {
             type_input: self.column_type_input.clone(),
             temporal_type_input: self.temporal_type_input.clone(),
             gtin_type_input: self.gtin_type_input.clone(),
+            link_table_input: self.link_table_input.clone(),
             decimal_precision_input: self.decimal_precision_input.clone(),
             decimal_scale_input: self.decimal_scale_input.clone(),
             indexing_input: self.column_indexing_input.clone(),
diff --git a/web/src/pages/add_table/ui.rs b/web/src/pages/add_table/ui.rs
index 4abc639c..e3f374d0 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/add_table/ui.rs
+++ b/web/src/pages/add_table/ui.rs
@@ -169,6 +169,12 @@ mod tests {
         let html = render_builder(&state);
         assert!(html.contains(r#"name="column_rounding_input""#));
         assert!(html.contains(r#"list="currency-codes""#));
+
+        state.draft.columns.type_input = "link".to_string();
+        let html = render_builder(&state);
+        assert!(html.contains("Link alias"));
+        assert!(html.contains(r#"name="link_table_input""#));
+        assert!(html.contains(r#"<option value="customer""#));
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/web/src/pages/admin/table_definition/state.rs b/web/src/pages/admin/table_definition/state.rs
index 6c1bf7eb..0b1e540f 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/admin/table_definition/state.rs
+++ b/web/src/pages/admin/table_definition/state.rs
@@ -277,6 +277,14 @@ pub(crate) struct TablePermissionAction {
 }
 
 impl TableDefinitionPageState {
+    pub(crate) fn link_target_tables(&self) -> Vec<&str> {
+        self.tables
+            .iter()
+            .filter(|table| table.name != self.selection.table && table.name != "accounts")
+            .map(|table| table.name.as_str())
+            .collect()
+    }
+
     /// The selected table's summary, which is where its kind and dependencies
     /// come from.
     pub(crate) fn selected_table(&self) -> Option<&TableSummary> {
diff --git a/web/src/pages/admin/table_definition/ui.rs b/web/src/pages/admin/table_definition/ui.rs
index faf1bc0f..667ab660 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/admin/table_definition/ui.rs
+++ b/web/src/pages/admin/table_definition/ui.rs
@@ -229,6 +229,20 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!html.contains(r#"<option value="accounting""#));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn the_append_panel_offers_link_targets_and_an_alias() {
+        let mut state = page();
+        state.columns.type_input = "link".to_string();
+        state.tables.push(table("customer", "dynamic"));
+
+        let html = render_column_panel(&state);
+
+        assert!(html.contains("Link alias"));
+        assert!(html.contains(r#"name="link_table_input""#));
+        assert!(html.contains(r#"<option value="customer""#));
+        assert!(!html.contains(r#"<option value="invoice""#));
+    }
+
     /// A system table is the backend's own; every write below is refused for
     /// it, so the workspace shows the definition and stops there.
     #[test]
diff --git a/web/src/schema/mod.rs b/web/src/schema/mod.rs
index ccdd598a..82a7f2f1 100644
--- a/web/src/schema/mod.rs
+++ b/web/src/schema/mod.rs
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ const TYPE_DISPLAY_ORDER: &[&str] = &[
     "email_address",
     "credit_card",
     "gtin",
+    "link",
 ];
 
 /// One column type as the backend describes it.
@@ -66,6 +67,8 @@ pub(crate) struct ColumnType {
     pub compound: bool,
     /// The name takes a precision and a scale: `decimal(12,3)`.
     pub parameterised: bool,
+    /// The name takes the target table: `link(customer)`.
+    pub link: bool,
     pub requires_currency: bool,
     /// Only choosable while the table is being created.
     pub creation_only: bool,
@@ -192,6 +195,11 @@ impl ColumnCatalog {
             .is_some_and(|column_type| column_type.parameterised)
     }
 
+    fn is_link(&self, field_type: &str) -> bool {
+        self.find(field_type)
+            .is_some_and(|column_type| column_type.link)
+    }
+
     /// The PostgreSQL type a column is stored as, for the definitions the
     /// backend reports back. Empty for a compound type and for any type this
     /// catalog does not know.
@@ -206,7 +214,11 @@ impl ColumnCatalog {
                 _ => String::new(),
             },
             None => self
-                .find(field_type)
+                .find(if link_argument(&field_type.to_lowercase()).is_some() {
+                    "link"
+                } else {
+                    field_type
+                })
                 .map(|column_type| column_type.sql_type.clone())
                 .unwrap_or_default(),
         }
@@ -246,11 +258,20 @@ impl ColumnCatalog {
             }
             return validate_decimal_arguments(precision, scale).err();
         }
+        if let Some(target) = link_argument(&field_type) {
+            if !self.is_link("link") {
+                return Some("`link` is not a valid field type.".to_string());
+            }
+            return validate_identifier(target, "Linked table", true);
+        }
         match self.find(&field_type) {
             // A parameterised type spelled bare is missing its arguments.
             Some(column_type) if column_type.parameterised => Some(format!(
                 "`{field_type}` needs both a precision and a scale."
             )),
+            Some(column_type) if column_type.link => {
+                Some("`link` needs a referenced table.".to_string())
+            }
             Some(column_type) if column_type.declarable => None,
             Some(_) => Some(format!(
                 "`{field_type}` is a column type the backend generates itself."
@@ -274,6 +295,13 @@ fn decimal_arguments(field_type: &str) -> Option<(&str, &str)> {
     })
 }
 
+fn link_argument(field_type: &str) -> Option<&str> {
+    field_type
+        .strip_prefix("link(")
+        .and_then(|rest| rest.strip_suffix(')'))
+        .map(str::trim)
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub(crate) enum MoneyMode {
     #[default]
@@ -335,6 +363,7 @@ pub(crate) struct ColumnDraft {
     pub type_input: String,
     pub temporal_type_input: String,
     pub gtin_type_input: String,
+    pub link_table_input: String,
     pub decimal_precision_input: String,
     pub decimal_scale_input: String,
     pub indexing_input: String,
@@ -417,6 +446,10 @@ impl ColumnDraft {
         self.catalog.is_parameterised(&self.type_input)
     }
 
+    pub(crate) fn show_link_target(&self) -> bool {
+        self.catalog.is_link(&self.type_input)
+    }
+
     /// Currency and rounding both apply only to a money column.
     pub(crate) fn show_money_options(&self) -> bool {
         self.pending_carries_currency()
@@ -449,6 +482,10 @@ impl ColumnDraft {
             validate_decimal_arguments(precision, scale)?;
             return Ok(Some(format!("{column_type}({precision},{scale})")));
         }
+        if self.catalog.is_link(&column_type) {
+            let target = self.link_table_input.trim().to_ascii_lowercase();
+            return Ok((!target.is_empty()).then(|| format!("{column_type}({target})")));
+        }
         let Some(group) = self.pending_group() else {
             return Ok(Some(column_type));
         };
@@ -542,6 +579,7 @@ impl ColumnDraft {
         self.type_input.clear();
         self.temporal_type_input.clear();
         self.gtin_type_input.clear();
+        self.link_table_input.clear();
         self.decimal_precision_input.clear();
         self.decimal_scale_input.clear();
         self.indexing_input = "no".to_string();
@@ -744,6 +782,7 @@ pub(crate) fn column_catalog(column_types: Vec<ProtoColumnType>) -> ColumnCatalo
             .into_iter()
             .map(|column_type| ColumnType {
                 parameterised: column_type.spelling() == ColumnTypeSpelling::Decimal,
+                link: column_type.spelling() == ColumnTypeSpelling::Link,
                 name: column_type.name,
                 sql_type: column_type.sql_type,
                 declarable: column_type.declarable,
@@ -802,6 +841,8 @@ pub(crate) struct ColumnForm {
     #[serde(default)]
     pub gtin_type_input: String,
     #[serde(default)]
+    pub link_table_input: String,
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub decimal_precision_input: String,
     #[serde(default)]
     pub decimal_scale_input: String,
@@ -835,6 +876,7 @@ impl ColumnForm {
             type_input: self.column_type_input.clone(),
             temporal_type_input: self.temporal_type_input.clone(),
             gtin_type_input: self.gtin_type_input.clone(),
+            link_table_input: self.link_table_input.clone(),
             decimal_precision_input: self.decimal_precision_input.clone(),
             decimal_scale_input: self.decimal_scale_input.clone(),
             indexing_input: self.column_indexing_input.clone(),
@@ -907,6 +949,7 @@ pub(crate) mod tests {
             declarable: true,
             compound: false,
             parameterised: false,
+            link: false,
             requires_currency: false,
             creation_only: false,
             allows_quantity_ledger: false,
@@ -974,6 +1017,11 @@ pub(crate) mod tests {
                 ..declarable("iban_bban")
             },
             numeric("int"),
+            ColumnType {
+                link: true,
+                sql_type: "BIGINT".to_string(),
+                ..declarable("link")
+            },
             ColumnType {
                 requires_currency: true,
                 ..numeric("money")
@@ -1064,6 +1112,31 @@ pub(crate) mod tests {
         assert_eq!(draft.added[2].data_type, "decimal(12,3)");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn link_picker_combines_the_alias_with_its_target_table() {
+        let mut draft = draft();
+        draft.name_input = "billing_customer".to_string();
+        draft.type_input = "link".to_string();
+
+        assert!(draft.show_link_target());
+        assert_eq!(draft.canonical_type_input().unwrap(), None);
+
+        draft.link_table_input = "customer".to_string();
+        draft.add_from_inputs().unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(draft.added[0].name, "billing_customer");
+        assert_eq!(draft.added[0].data_type, "link(customer)");
+        assert_eq!(draft.catalog.sql_type("link(customer)"), "BIGINT");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn bare_link_type_is_rejected_without_a_target() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            draft().catalog.validate_field_type("link"),
+            Some("`link` needs a referenced table.".to_string())
+        );
+    }
+
     /// The precision and scale rules are the server's, so a draft that would
     /// be refused there is refused here first.
     #[test]
diff --git a/web/templates/pages/add_table/builder.html b/web/templates/pages/add_table/builder.html
index 30392822..2ab79d74 100644
--- a/web/templates/pages/add_table/builder.html
+++ b/web/templates/pages/add_table/builder.html
@@ -98,8 +98,9 @@
 <section class="builder-section">
   <h2>Add a column</h2>
   <div class="form-grid">
-    <label>Column name
+    <label>{% if page.draft.columns.show_link_target() %}Link alias{% else %}Column name{% endif %}
       <input name="column_name_input" value="{{ page.draft.columns.name_input }}" placeholder="number">
+      {% if page.draft.columns.show_link_target() %}<small>The alias is the column name used to distinguish this relationship.</small>{% endif %}
     </label>
     <label>Column type
       <select name="column_type_input" hx-post="/admin/tables/builder" hx-trigger="change"
@@ -147,6 +148,18 @@
       </label>
     {% endif %}
 
+    {% if page.draft.columns.show_link_target() %}
+      <label>Referenced table
+        <select name="link_table_input">
+          <option value="">Choose a table</option>
+          {% for table in page.draft.relation_tables %}
+            <option value="{{ table }}" {% if page.draft.columns.link_table_input == *table %}selected{% endif %}>{{ table }}</option>
+          {% endfor %}
+        </select>
+        {% if page.draft.relation_tables.is_empty() %}<small>No eligible tables exist in this scope.</small>{% endif %}
+      </label>
+    {% endif %}
+
     {% if page.draft.columns.show_money_options() %}
       <label>Currency
         <input name="column_currency_input" value="{{ page.draft.columns.currency_input }}" list="currency-codes"
diff --git a/web/templates/pages/admin/table_definition/column_panel.html b/web/templates/pages/admin/table_definition/column_panel.html
index 7272e781..85758ebc 100644
--- a/web/templates/pages/admin/table_definition/column_panel.html
+++ b/web/templates/pages/admin/table_definition/column_panel.html
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@
 {% endif %}
 
 <div class="form-grid">
-  <label>Column name
+  <label>{% if page.columns.show_link_target() %}Link alias{% else %}Column name{% endif %}
     <input name="column_name_input" value="{{ page.columns.name_input }}" placeholder="issued_on">
+    {% if page.columns.show_link_target() %}<small>The alias is the column name used to distinguish this relationship.</small>{% endif %}
   </label>
   <label>Column type
     <select name="column_type_input"
@@ -74,6 +75,18 @@
     </label>
   {% endif %}
 
+  {% if page.columns.show_link_target() %}
+    <label>Referenced table
+      <select name="link_table_input">
+        <option value="">Choose a table</option>
+        {% for table in page.link_target_tables() %}
+          <option value="{{ table }}" {% if page.columns.link_table_input == *table %}selected{% endif %}>{{ table }}</option>
+        {% endfor %}
+      </select>
+      {% if page.link_target_tables().is_empty() %}<small>No eligible tables exist in this scope.</small>{% endif %}
+    </label>
+  {% endif %}
+
   {% if page.columns.show_money_options() %}
     <label>Currency
       <input name="column_currency_input" value="{{ page.columns.currency_input }}" list="currency-codes"