The :link
CSS pseudo-class represents an element that has not yet been visited. It matches every unvisited <a>
, <area>
, or <link>
element that has an href
attribute.
/* Selects any <a> that has not been visited yet */ a:link { color: red; }
Styles defined by the :link
pseudo-class will be overridden by any subsequent link-related pseudo-class (:active
, :hover
, or :visited
) that has at least equal specificity. To style links appropriately, put the :link
rule before all other link-related rules, as defined by the LVHA-order: :link
— :visited
— :hover
— :active
.
Note: Use :any-link
to select an element independent of whether it has been visited or not.
Syntax
:link
Examples
By default, most browsers apply a special color
value to visited links. Thus, the links in this example will probably have special font colors only before you visit them. (After that, you'll need to clear your browser history to see them again.) However, the background-color
values are likely to remain, as most browsers do not set that property on visited links by default.
HTML
<a href="#ordinary-target">This is an ordinary link.</a><br> <a href="">You've already visited this link.</a><br> <a>Placeholder link (won't get styled)</a>
CSS
a:link { background-color: gold; color: green; }
Result
Specifications
Specification | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|
HTML Living Standard The definition of ':link' in that specification. |
Living Standard | |
Selectors Level 4 The definition of ':link' in that specification. |
Working Draft | No change. |
Selectors Level 3 The definition of ':link' in that specification. |
Recommendation | No change. |
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1) The definition of ':link' in that specification. |
Recommendation | Lift the restriction to only apply it for <a> element. |
CSS Level 1 The definition of ':link' in that specification. |
Recommendation | Initial definition. |
Browser compatibility
Desktop | Mobile | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
:link | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 1 | IE Full support 3 | Opera Full support 3.5 | Safari Full support 1 | WebView Android Full support 1.5 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android Full support 14 | Safari iOS Full support 3.2 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
Legend
- Full support
- Full support