Why does my Link turn purple?

Why Does My Link Turn Purple?

Hyperlinks are an essential part of the digital world, allowing us to navigate from one webpage to another with ease. However, did you know that links can change color depending on whether they have been visited or not? In this article, we’ll explore the reason behind this phenomenon and provide some tips on how to change the default behavior.

What Causes Links to Turn Purple?

When you click on a link, the default behavior of most web browsers is to change the link’s color to indicate that it has been visited. This is done through a CSS pseudo-class called :visited. By default, this pseudo-class applies a purple color to visited links, hence the term "purple link." The purpose of this behavior is to allow users to distinguish between visited and unvisited links, making it easier to navigate and find new content.

Browser-Specific Behavior

While most browsers follow the same behavior, there can be some variations. For example, Internet Explorer uses a blue color for visited links, while Chrome and Firefox use purple. Safari on macOS uses a blue color, while on Windows, it uses purple.

How to Change the Default Behavior

If you’re tired of links turning purple, there are a few ways to change the default behavior. Here are a few options:

• Use CSS: You can use CSS to override the default behavior by setting the :visited pseudo-class to a different color or no color at all. For example:

  a:visited {
  color: blue;
  }

• Use a user style sheet: Some browsers, such as Firefox, allow you to create a user style sheet that can override the default behavior. You can add the following code to your user style sheet:

  @-moz-document domain("your-domain.com") {
  a:visited {
  color: blue;
  }
  }

• Use a browser extension: There are several browser extensions available that can change the default behavior of visited links. For example, Link Redirect for Chrome and Visit Link for Firefox can change the color of visited links to blue or any other color you prefer.

What Are the Benefits of Changing the Default Behavior?

Changing the default behavior of visited links can have several benefits, including:

• Improved readability: By setting the color of visited links to a different color, you can improve the readability of your webpage. For example, if you set the color to blue, it can be easier to distinguish between visited and unvisited links.
• Customization: By changing the default behavior, you can customize the appearance of your webpage to suit your preferences.
• Consistency: By setting the color of visited links to a consistent color, you can improve the consistency of your webpage’s design.

Conclusion

In conclusion, links turning purple is a default behavior of most web browsers. However, there are ways to change the default behavior using CSS, user style sheets, or browser extensions. By changing the default behavior, you can improve the readability, customization, and consistency of your webpage.