How to Remove the Underline from a Link in HTML

Many people find it’s cleaner to remove the underline from links in HTML. Browsers default to underlining, but it’s pretty easy to override this with a little CSS.

How to remove the underline from a link in HTML using CSS?

To remove the underline from links, leverage the text-decoration property in CSS. Setting this property to none for anchor (<a>) elements does the trick.

a {
    text-decoration: none;
}

How can you apply styles selectively?

For more targeted styling, such as within specific site sections like a navigation menu or footer, use CSS selectors that are more specific.

nav a, footer a {
    text-decoration: none;
}

This approach ensures that only the links within <nav> and <footer> tags lose their underline, leaving the rest as is.

What hover effects can you use on links?

When you remove underlines, adding a hover effect to links is a good practice. This effect provides visual feedback, making it clear that the text is interactive.

a:hover {
    text-decoration: underline;
    color: blue;
}

By reintroducing the underline on hover and changing the link's color to blue, you signal to users that these elements are interactive, enhancing the usability of your website.

In summary, controlling the presentation of links with CSS not only sharpens the look of your website but also enhances user navigation. Always aim for a design that both looks great and is easy to use, ensuring your site remains accessible and user-friendly.