### Author:  [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-torgo-the-load-asks-for-free-html-advice/155200/1 "2003-02-15T02:18:28Z")
How do I code a link so that the link text shows up as some color other than blue? Can I code it so that it appears as any color I choose?
Thanks in advance!
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### Author:  [@Marcus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marcus)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-torgo-the-load-asks-for-free-html-advice/155200/2 "2003-02-15T02:38:43Z")
The best way is to use [Cascading Style Sheets](http://www.w3.org/Style/CSS/). A simple example of an inline style sheet (i.e., the stylesheet is not in a separate file) is:
```auto
of your document.
You can use any [colour](http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_colors.asp) you want.
Resist the temptation to define styles in the page!
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### Author:  [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2003, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-torgo-the-load-asks-for-free-html-advice/155200/3 "2003-02-15T02:41:20Z")
Thanks Marcus! I’m currently learning to use CSS but was just wondering if there was a quick and dirty way to HTML it.
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### Author:  [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2003, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-torgo-the-load-asks-for-free-html-advice/155200/4 "2003-02-15T02:56:56Z")
If you want it to apply to the whole page, the “quick and dirty html way” is to put it in the body tag:
\
If you want different colors for individual links, you gotta us CSS.
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-torgo-the-load-asks-for-free-html-advice/155200/5 "2003-02-15T02:59:36Z")
Sure. Put this in the body tag:
> [@](#):
>
> \
The numbers can be changed to make different colors.
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### Author:  [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-torgo-the-load-asks-for-free-html-advice/155200/6 "2003-02-15T03:08:52Z")
Thanks to all; if it was feasable I’d send you all a nice meatloaf.
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### Author:  [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-torgo-the-load-asks-for-free-html-advice/155200/7 "2003-02-15T17:05:40Z")
Changing the default standard colors for things like links is bad HTML programming. People get very used to the colors of links (and visited links). Expect your site to be less functional as a result.
But since bad HTML programming is the only way things are done nowadays, I (and many other people) set their browsers to ignore such poorly thought out color manipulations. I.e., it will still look blue-ish to me.
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### Author:  [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2003, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-torgo-the-load-asks-for-free-html-advice/155200/8 "2003-02-15T19:05:55Z")
Yes and no. Links that don’t look like links are bad, certainly, but that doesn’t mean that every link should be blue/purple. I’m sure there’s room for a balance between design and usability.
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### Author:  [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-torgo-the-load-asks-for-free-html-advice/155200/9 "2003-02-15T21:06:02Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Crusoe \*
> Yes and no. Links that don’t look like links are bad, certainly, but that doesn’t mean that every link should be blue/purple. I’m sure there’s room for a balance between design and usability.
Then there are web standards and accessibility requirements that many web sites strive to make, and countless more don’t give a rat’s behind. And in some cases, there is no leeway - the law requires it.
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### Author:  [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-torgo-the-load-asks-for-free-html-advice/155200/10 "2003-02-15T21:26:25Z")
Absolutely.
Personally, I believe that the vast majority of websites are horribly inaccessible, and would all benefit from some genuine thought. I also believe that being accessible doesn’t mean following one absolute standard with no flexibility or room for individual design.