CSS - Links


This chapter teaches you how to set different properties of a hyper link using CSS. You can set following properties of a hyper link −

We will revisit the same properties when we will discuss Pseudo-Classes of CSS.

  • The :link signifies unvisited hyperlinks.

  • The :visited signifies visited hyperlinks.

  • The :hover signifies an element that currently has the user's mouse pointer hovering over it.

  • The :active signifies an element on which the user is currently clicking.

Usually, all these properties are kept in the header part of the HTML document.

Remember a:hover MUST come after a:link and a:visited in the CSS definition in order to be effective. Also, a:active MUST come after a:hover in the CSS definition as follows −

<style type = "text/css">
   a:link {color: #000000}
   a:visited {color: #006600}
   a:hover {color: #FFCC00}
   a:active {color: #FF00CC}
</style>

Now, we will see how to use these properties to give different effects to hyperlinks.

Set the Color of Links

The following example demonstrates how to set the link color. Possible values could be any color name in any valid format.

<html>
   <head>
      <style type = "text/css">
         a:link {color:#000000}
     </style>
   </head>

   <body>
      <a href = "">Link</a>
   </body>
</html> 

It will produce the following black link −

Set the Color of Visited Links

The following example demonstrates how to set the color of visited links. Possible values could be any color name in any valid format.

<html>
   <head>
      <style type = "text/css">
         a:visited {color: #006600}
      </style>
   </head>

   <body>
      <a href = ""> link</a> 
   </body>
</html> 

It will produce the following link. Once you will click this link, it will change its color to green.

Change the Color of Links when Mouse is Over

The following example demonstrates how to change the color of links when we bring a mouse pointer over that link. Possible values could be any color name in any valid format.

<html>
   <head>
      <style type = "text/css">
         a:hover {color: #FFCC00}
      </style>
   </head>

   <body>
      <a href = "">Link</a>
   </body>
</html> 

It will produce the following link. Now, you bring your mouse over this link and you will see that it changes its color to yellow.

Change the Color of Active Links

The following example demonstrates how to change the color of active links. Possible values could be any color name in any valid format.

<html>
   <head>
      <style type = "text/css">
         a:active {color: #FF00CC}
      </style>
   </head>

   <body>
      <a href = "">Link</a>
   </body>
</html> 

It will produce the following link. It will change its color to pink when the user clicks it.

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