Links

Links in our Web site automatically include behaviors set by CSS2 pseudo-classes to provide visual feedback to interactive user agents in a number of ways:

1. Link pseudo-classes :link and :visited provide distinct colors to differentiate whether links have been visited by the visitor.
2. Dynamic pseudo-classes :hover and :active provide distinct colors to differentiate when a link is designated with some pointing device but not activated and when a link is being activated.

Visual feedback assists sighted visitors in navigation by associating specific colors with recognized actions. Examples: "Oh, that's purple, so I've already been there" and "That's highlighted in yellow, so my cursor must be right on that link."

You do not need to write any code to get these behaviors because they are set by our stylesheets.

Links and Pop-up Windows

Never set a link so that the link opens in a pop-up window. See Pop-up Windows.

E-mail Links

Never set an e-mail address link on a person's name because there is ambiguity in the expectation of what will happen: Will this take me to the person's biography page? Will this take me to a new e-mail message to the person? Will this take me to a photo of the person? Instead, put the e-mail address right on the page and set the link on it. Voila! No more ambiguity!

Related Topic: Colors

Go To: Interaction Design or Style Guide