Links

Use links to help people navigate to another location, site or resource.

Links are navigational elements that take people to another location, site or resource.

Links should be blue and underlined by default. Do not include the full stop at the end of a sentence inside the link.

<a href="/example" class="govuk-link">Link text</a>

Links without a visited state

Use govuk-link--no-visited-state when it is not useful to distinguish between visited and unvisited pages, such as frequently changing admin content.

External links

Make the link text clear. There is no need to say that a link is external or add an external-link icon.

Opening links in a new tab

Links should open in the same tab by default. If a new tab is necessary, say “opens in new tab” in the link text and include rel="noreferrer noopener" with target="_blank".

<a href="/example" class="govuk-link" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">
  Link text (opens in new tab)
</a>

Links on dark backgrounds

Use govuk-link--inverse for white links on dark backgrounds.

Links without underlines

Use govuk-link--no-underline only when the context makes it clear that the text is a link, such as a header or side navigation.