Understanding CSS Pseudo-Classes: :link, :visited, :active and :hover

CSS pseudo-classes are essential for applying styles based on the state or interaction of elements. They provide dynamic styling capabilities, especially for links. Here’s a detailed overview of how to use these pseudo-classes:

1. :hover

The :hover pseudo-class styles a link when the user’s cursor is hovering over it. This is useful for providing interactive feedback and enhancing user experience.

Example:

a:hover {
    color: orange; /* Color of links when hovered over */
    text-decoration: underline; /* Underline links on hover */
}

This rule changes the link color to orange and adds an underline when the user hovers over it, making the link appear interactive.

2. :link

The :link pseudo-class targets hyperlinks that have not yet been visited by the user. It sets the initial appearance of these links.

Example:

a:link {
    color: blue; /* Color of unvisited links */
}

This rule ensures that unvisited links appear blue, making them easily recognizable to users.

3. :visited

The :visited pseudo-class applies styles to links that the user has previously visited. This helps in distinguishing between links that have been clicked and those that have not.

Example:

a:visited {
    color: purple; /* Color of visited links */
}

This rule changes the color of visited links to purple, providing visual feedback on the user’s browsing history.

4. :active

The :active pseudo-class styles a link while it is being clicked by the user. It provides immediate feedback during the click action.

Example:

a:active {
    color: red; /* Color of a link while being clicked */
}

This rule changes the link color to red during the click, giving clear feedback that the link is being activated.

Combining Pseudo-Classes

For a complete styling experience, combine these pseudo-classes in your CSS. The order in which they appear is important because it determines their priority:

a:link {
    color: blue; /* Unvisited link */
}

a:visited {
    color: purple; /* Visited link */
}

a:hover {
    color: orange; /* Link when hovered over */
    text-decoration: underline; /* Add underline on hover */
}

a:active {
    color: red; /* Link while being clicked */
}

• :link: Applies to unvisited links.
• :visited: Applies to links that have been visited.
• :hover: Applies when the user hovers over the link.
• :active: Applies when the link is being clicked.

Final Code

Here’s a complete HTML and CSS example that demonstrates the use of these pseudo-classes:

Summary

CSS pseudo-classes like :hover, :link, :visited, and :active enhance the styling of links based on their state and user interactions. Using these pseudo-classes effectively provides clear visual feedback and improves the overall user experience on your website.

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