Summary
The :visited CSS pseudo-class lets you select only links that have been visited. This style may be overridden by any other link-related pseudo-classes, that is :link, :hover, and :active, appearing in subsequent rules. In order to style appropriately links, you need to put the :visited rule after the :link rule but before the other ones, defined in the LVHA-order: :link — :visited — :hover — :active.
Note: For privacy reasons, browsers strictly limit the styles you can apply using an element selected by this pseudo-class: only color, background-color, border-color, border-bottom-color, border-left-color, border-right-color, border-top-color, outline-color, column-rule-color, fill and stroke. Note also that the alpha component will be ignored: the alpha component of the not-visited rule is used instead (except when the opacity is 0, in that case the whole color is ignored, and the one of the not-visited rule is used).
Though the color can be changed, the method getComputedStyle will lie and always give back the value of the non-visited color.
For more information on the limitations and the motivation for them, see Privacy and the :visited selector.
Examples
a:visited { color: #4b2f89; }
a:visited { background-color: white }
Specifications
| Specification | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| WHATWG HTML Living Standard The definition of ':visited' in that specification. |
Living Standard | |
| Selectors Level 4 The definition of ':visited' in that specification. |
Working Draft | No change. |
| Selectors Level 3 The definition of ':visited' in that specification. |
Recommendation | No change. |
| CSS Level 2 (Revision 1) The definition of ':visited' in that specification. |
Recommendation | Lift the restriction to only apply it for <a> element. Let browsers restricts its behavior for privacy reasons. |
| CSS Level 1 The definition of ':visited' in that specification. |
Recommendation | Initial definition. |
Browser compatibility
| Feature | Chrome | Firefox (Gecko) | Internet Explorer | Opera | Safari (WebKit) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic support | 1.0 | 1.0 (1.7 or earlier) | 3.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 |
Restrictions in CSS properties allowed in a statement using :visited |
6 | 4.0 (2.0) | 8 (or earlier) | ? | 5.0 |
| Feature | Android | Firefox Mobile (Gecko) | IE Phone | Opera Mobile | Safari Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic support | ? | 1.0 (1.0) | ? | ? | ? |
See also
- Privacy and the :visited selector
- Link-related pseudo-classes:
:link,:active, and:hover.