Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

CSS CSS Basics (2014) Basic Selectors Pseudo-Classes

Why is it called a:link and not a:unvisited?

It's a: visited, so why isn't it just simple as a:unvisited too?

style.css
/* Complete the challenge by writing CSS below */
index.html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Lake Tahoe</title>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="page.css">
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css">
  </head>
  <body> 
    <header>
      <span>Journey through the Sierra Nevada Mountains</span>
      <h1>Lake Tahoe, California</h1>
    </header>
    <p>
      Lake Tahoe is one of the most breathtaking attractions located in California. It's home to a number of ski resorts, summer outdoor recreation, and tourist attractions. Snow and skiing are a significant part of the area's reputation.
    </p>
    <a href="#">Find out more</a>
    <div>
      <h2>Check out all the Wildlife</h2>
      <p>
        As spawning season approaches, the fish acquire a humpback and protuberant jaw. After spawning, they die and their carcasses provide a feast for gatherings of mink, bears, and Bald eagles.
      </p>
      <a href="#">See the Wildlife</a>
    <div>
    <h3>From Tents to Resorts</h3>
    <p>
    Lake Tahoe is full of wonderful places to stay. You have the ability to sleep in the outdoors in a tent, or relax like a king at a five star resort. Here are our top three resorts:
    </p>
    <ul>
      <li><a href="#">Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel</a></li>
      <li><a href="#">South Lake Tahoe Resorts</a></li>
      <li><a href="#">Tahoe Ski Resort Lodging</a></li>
    </ul>
  </body>
</html>

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,732 Points

There isn't any CSS facility to target only unvisited links. The ":link" pseudo-class only refers to "unvisited" when you have a rule established for ":visited" that overrides it.

By itself, it affects all links, and thus the name.

Could you possibly dumb it down a lot?

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,732 Points

Let me try stating it another way. The "a:link" selector targets all the links, including visited ones. That's why it's not called "unvisited".

But when you create another rule for "a:visited", that one will take over handling all the visited links. Then "a:link" is left handling only the unvisited ones.