diff --git a/htmlreport/cppcheck-htmlreport b/htmlreport/cppcheck-htmlreport
index b33699ca2ed..5fd2f5017a7 100755
--- a/htmlreport/cppcheck-htmlreport
+++ b/htmlreport/cppcheck-htmlreport
@@ -494,9 +494,20 @@ def tr_str(td_th, line, id, cwe, severity, classification, guideline, message, t
     if classification:
         items.extend([classification, guideline])
     if htmlfile:
-        ret += '<%s><a href="%s#line-%d">%d</a></%s>' % (td_th, htmlfile, line, line, td_th)
+        if htmlfile.startswith("http://") or htmlfile.startswith("https://"):
+            # GitHub/GitLab style line anchor
+            href = f"{htmlfile.rstrip('#L1')}#L{line}"
+            # Emit **line number with link**
+            ret += f'<{td_th}><a href="{href}" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">{line}</a></{td_th}>'
+        else:
+            # local HTML annotated
+            href = f"{htmlfile}#line-{line}"
+            # Emit **line number with link**
+            ret += f'<{td_th}><a href="{href}">{line}</a></{td_th}>'
+
+        # Emit id, cwe, severity, classification, ...
         for item in items:
-            ret += '<%s>%s</%s>' % (td_th, item, td_th)
+            ret += f'<{td_th}>{item}</{td_th}>'
     else:
         items.insert(0,line)
         for item in items:
@@ -675,7 +686,9 @@ def main() -> None:
                               'written.')
     parser.add_argument('--source-dir', dest='source_dir',
                          help='Base directory where source code files can be '
-                              'found.')
+                              'found, or a URL to a remote GitHub/GitLab '
+                              'repository including a branch, e.g. '
+                              '--source-dir=https://github.com/<username>/<repo>/blob/<branch>/')
     parser.add_argument('--add-author-information', dest='add_author_information',
                         help='Blame information to include. '
                              'Adds specified author information. '
@@ -705,6 +718,10 @@ def main() -> None:
     if options.source_dir:
         source_dir = options.source_dir
 
+    is_remote = False
+    if source_dir.startswith("http://") or source_dir.startswith("https://"):
+        is_remote = True
+
     add_author_information = []
     if options.add_author_information:
         fields = [x.strip() for x in options.add_author_information.split(',')]
@@ -753,9 +770,14 @@ def main() -> None:
     for error in contentHandler.errors:
         filename = error['file']
         if filename not in files:
-            files[filename] = {
-                'errors': [], 'htmlfile': str(file_no) + '.html'}
-            file_no = file_no + 1
+            if is_remote:
+                # Construct remote URL for GitHub/GitLab
+                # tr_str() will use the actual line number, so we can just start with line 1
+                remote_url = source_dir.rstrip('/') + '/' + filename + '#L1'
+                files[filename] = {'errors': [], 'htmlfile': remote_url}
+            else:
+                files[filename] = {'errors': [], 'htmlfile': str(file_no) + '.html'}
+                file_no += 1
         files[filename]['errors'].append(error)
 
     # Make sure that the report directory is created if it doesn't exist.
@@ -795,6 +817,11 @@ def main() -> None:
         if filename == '':
             continue
 
+        if is_remote:
+            # Remote source: do NOT generate local annotated HTML files.
+            # The index will still point directly to GitHub/GitLab URLs.
+            continue
+
         source_filename = os.path.join(source_dir, filename)
         try:
             with io.open(source_filename, 'r', encoding=options.source_encoding) as input_file:
diff --git a/man/manual-premium.md b/man/manual-premium.md
index 6ae337a9fb0..9f2e5992537 100644
--- a/man/manual-premium.md
+++ b/man/manual-premium.md
@@ -1158,14 +1158,41 @@ The output screen says:
                        Default is reading from stdin.
        --report-dir=REPORT_DIR
                        The directory where the html report content is written.
-       --source-dir=SOURCE_DIR
-                       Base directory where source code files can be found.
+       --source-dir=SOURCE_DIR|URL
+                       Base directory where source code files can be found, or
+                       a URL to a remote GitHub/GitLab repository including a
+                       branch, e.g.:
+                         --source-dir=https://github.com/<username>/<repo>/blob/<branch>/
 
 Example usage:
 
     cppcheck gui/test.cpp --xml 2> err.xml
     cppcheck-htmlreport --file=err.xml --report-dir=test1 --source-dir=.
 
+or
+    cppcheck gui/test.cpp --xml 2> err.xml
+    cppcheck-htmlreport --file=err.xml --report-dir=test1 \
+         --source-dir=https://github.com/<username>/<repo>/blob/<branch>/
+
+## Choosing Between Local Annotated HTML and Remote Repository Links
+
+cppcheck-htmlreport supports two modes for linking to source files:
+ - Local annotated HTML files (default when `--source-dir` is a filesystem path)
+ - Remote GitHub/GitLab links (when `--source-dir` is a URL)
+
+Pointing `--source-dir` to a filesystem path generates local annotated HTML files.
+This is useful when you need a fully self-contained report that works offline,
+includes inline annotations, and is ideal for small or medium projects where
+generation is fast.
+Using a remote GitHub/GitLab URL avoids generating per-file HTML and keeps the
+summary report lightweight and fast to produce. This mode is ideal when the
+source is already hosted online and local duplication is unnecessary.
+Remote mode is especially helpful when the HTML report may be public or widely
+distributed but the source code should remain private, since access control is
+handled by the hosting service.
+In general, local mode fits air-gapped environments, while remote mode works
+best for CI workflows and large or private repositories.
+
 # Check Level
 
 ## Reduced
diff --git a/man/manual.md b/man/manual.md
index cc1182ab9ab..68a59109666 100644
--- a/man/manual.md
+++ b/man/manual.md
@@ -1182,14 +1182,41 @@ The output screen says:
                        Default is reading from stdin.
        --report-dir=REPORT_DIR
                        The directory where the html report content is written.
-       --source-dir=SOURCE_DIR
-                       Base directory where source code files can be found.
+       --source-dir=SOURCE_DIR|URL
+                       Base directory where source code files can be found, or
+                       a URL to a remote GitHub/GitLab repository including a
+                       branch, e.g.:
+                         --source-dir=https://github.com/<username>/<repo>/blob/<branch>/
 
 Example usage:
 
     cppcheck gui/test.cpp --xml 2> err.xml
     cppcheck-htmlreport --file=err.xml --report-dir=test1 --source-dir=.
 
+or
+    cppcheck gui/test.cpp --xml 2> err.xml
+    cppcheck-htmlreport --file=err.xml --report-dir=test1 \
+         --source-dir=https://github.com/<username>/<repo>/blob/<branch>/
+
+## Choosing Between Local Annotated HTML and Remote Repository Links
+
+cppcheck-htmlreport supports two modes for linking to source files:
+ - Local annotated HTML files (default when `--source-dir` is a filesystem path)
+ - Remote GitHub/GitLab links (when `--source-dir` is a URL)
+
+Pointing `--source-dir` to a filesystem path generates local annotated HTML files.
+This is useful when you need a fully self-contained report that works offline,
+includes inline annotations, and is ideal for small or medium projects where
+generation is fast.
+Using a remote GitHub/GitLab URL avoids generating per-file HTML and keeps the
+summary report lightweight and fast to produce. This mode is ideal when the
+source is already hosted online and local duplication is unnecessary.
+Remote mode is especially helpful when the HTML report may be public or widely
+distributed but the source code should remain private, since access control is
+handled by the hosting service.
+In general, local mode fits air-gapped environments, while remote mode works
+best for CI workflows and large or private repositories.
+
 # Check Level
 
 ## Reduced