Browsers apply default styles to links that have remained consistent since the early days of the web. These familiar behaviors help users recognize interactive elements.
Unvisited Links
Blue color with underline
Visited Links
Purple color with underline
Hover State
Hand cursor pointer appears
Focus State
Outline appears around the link
visibility
Default Link Examples
Try hovering over this link to see the hand cursor
Press Tab to focus on links and see the outline
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Why Keep Default Styles?
Users expect these familiar behaviors:
- Underlines indicate clickable text
- Color changes show visited vs. unvisited
- Visual feedback on hover/focus improves accessibility