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Text linking best practices

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by maryweilage

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What "rules" do you follow when you include textual links in your site designs, as discussed in this week's Design and Usability Tactics e-newsletter? Do you agree with the author's thoughts on underlining links, changing link colors, and using special effects?

6 replies

by jezter~

I usually do not use text decoration in in-text links. I use the colour red for active throughout and a hover of aqua (with a deeper colour for visited). This keeps my sites consistent and doesn't break the text flow by having underlines all over the place and allows the use of underline for emphasis. The main thing is to keep it consistent over the entire site, I think it is a misnomer that visitors will hunt for links if they're not underlined - they want a consistent and obvious way of navigating. The use of underline was fine in the early days, when web use was new, but visitors now are more accustomed to surfing and no longer need to be lead. Obviously, using css for the sites makes the whole thing a doddle to administer. My 2 cents worth.

by jim kukral

Hi Jezter, thanks for commenting.

I think we're both in agreement that Internet users have grown and become more web-savvy, to an extent...

However, I don't think we're fully there yet. There are still people out there that only look for the underlines.

If you are at all concerned with making sure that everyone, not some, of your users can use your site, it's best practice to play it safe.

Regards,

Jim Kukral

by michael_tyrrell

I agree with everything in this newsletter, but this is pretty basic stuff. I've been very impressed with your other newsletters, but the Design and Usability tactics newsletter is pretty weak (i.e., I haven't learned anything that I didn't already know and I'm not a usability expert).

by maryweilage

Thank you for offering input about this newsletter! What are some specific topics that you would like to see the author cover in future editions?

by jim kukral

Hi Michael,

Thanks for commenting. I'm glad to get feedback from readers as this column is only a month or two old and I'm not too sure about exactly how technical of people read it.

I'd love to cover some topics regarding design and usabilitythat you would like to read about. Did you have anything in particular in mind? My goal is to give the readers what they want.

Until now, I've been concentrating on the basics in hopes that readers would be able to pick up some quick tips or ideas. I'd be happy to delve into more detail in the future.

Please post all your suggestions here on this discussion forum.

Regards,

Jim Kukral

by webhacker

Since this is a Design & Usabilty newsletter (that would appeal primarily for developers), I for one fairly advanced topics. Something along the lines of do's and dont's, traps to avoid, suggestions for proffesional looking web pages, etc.

I do agree with the replies that users are now more savvy now. I am amazed that people think viewers couldn't find a link a link without an underline. Sure it helps, but if the link is a different color that contrasts with the bg, I don't see what the problem is.

I had a 'discussion' with a co-worker about this very subject. She emphatically maintained that ALL links should have underlines. I stated that in this situtaion, underlines didn't look good.

Good column.

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