Any measurable or observable characteristic related to the shape, structure, or pattern of the morphologically and biochemically distinct link types that extend between the stereocilia of cochlear hair bundles; link types can be distinguished by their relative sensitivities to treatment with calcium chelators and the protease subtilisin.

in the mature mouse cochlea, tip links and horizontal top connectors are the only inter-stereocilial links associated with the hair bundle; ankle links and transient lateral links are both prominent features of developing auditory hair bundles