HTML Links and Usability

Question

Should links on a web page ALWAYS be underlined?
I do not believe this should be a hard and fast RULE!
I wrote a comment on my blog awhile back about this after another developer complained that I was not following web standards. It is coming up again, and I want to know what you think. Her argument was that for consistency and usability, ALL links had to be underlined ALL the time. My manager agreed, so I changed two lines in a CSS, and it was done. I did not mind doing the work, but I think the usability of the site is less now. There are way too many things screaming for your attention.

I should mention that this is a web site with many pages of data entry. The links in question were navigation links to the left of the page in a box that was titled "Menu". The underline did appear when you hovered over the link already, and the background colour changed when the user hovered over the link. I really could not believe I was even having the discussion. I was even more shocked when my manager agreed.

Am I wrong? What other arguments should I have made? Thanks! :)

Answer 1

I think all links need to be distinguishable from normal text, but not necessarily underlined. Menus and navigation bars are pretty standard on websites, and are usually recognisable as such, so I think they are being a little too dogmatic.

Answer 2

Ask Jakob Nielsen and he'll say yes, all links must be underlined and in blue. Still, look at his site. It's downright usable, no doubt, but (and he assumes it) it goes to extremes to prove his point.

I second the people here in that you must above all clearly distinguish links from other text throughout the page, but having them all underlined might be overkill.

My suggestion: underline links within the main body of text, because these need a bit more effort to stand out. Navigation links should be fine if underlined when hovered or, depending on the case (and whether your overall design is good and consistent enough) even consider not underlining them at all.

At the end, it all boils down to depends. Your bosses just agreed on the most probable, no-risk path.