views:

135

answers:

3

How long will a browser remember a "a:visited" link? Assuming the method isn't uniform across browsers - an answer for any individual browser (or as many as you know) would be helpful.

Also, under which type of memory is it stored? "Web History"? Cache?

+4  A: 

Visited links are part of your web history, and how long they're stored depends on each user's individual browser settings. I believe Firefox remembers unlimited history by default, but anyone can set a time limit on it, or have it be cleared every time they close their browser, etc.

tzaman
Given no CSS and a default Firefox install, you're saying that a page will display any link you've visited as purple forever? Somehow this doesn't seem right to me, but maybe I'm just mistaken.
Matrym
My current web history (Ctrl-H) runs back four months at the moment, and shows no signs of stopping. `Tools->Options->Privacy->Use Custom Settings for History` allows you set a duration if you want.
tzaman
Mine seems to default to 90 days.
Mark
+2  A: 

Usually, it's :visited if the url is in the browser's history, this is pretty consistent across browsers. How long?...however long history is stored, which varies greatly depending on preferences. Also, if the user's in any sort of privacy mode, history is typically disabled, meaning no links are "visited".

Nick Craver
A: 

Not sure about all browsers, but Firefox seems to show visited links in different color until I restart the browser; it shows these visited links in history tab, but they are the same color as visited on the page.

skevar7