Re: [selectors-api] Handling :link and :visited Pseudo Classes

Travis Leithead wrote:
>>> I'm considering adjusting the spec to allow just two options, and
>>> making IE8's behaviour non-conforming.
> 
> That sounds like you're trying to play hardball. :)

My main concern is that interoperability is not sacrificed in the name 
of a security measure that's not entirely effective anyway.  I believe 
there are alternative approaches that would achieve the same level of 
security without sacrificing too much interoperability.

Although, ideally, both :link and :visited used in these APIs would 
match the same elements as they do when used in CSS.  However, failing 
that, what is wrong with treating all links as unvisited as far as these 
APIs are concerned.

Consider this:

<p><a href="visited-link">foo</a> <a href="unvisited-link">bar</a>

<script>
var list1 = document.querySelectorAll(":link"); // Returns both links
var list2 = document.querySelectorAll(":visited"); // Returns empty list
</script>

That retains sufficient functionality to make at least :link useful, 
without revealing which links have or have not been visited.  This 
doesn't really affect interoperability too much, since the result is 
effectively the same as if the user just cleared their history.

Alternatively, implementing a variation of that solution such as that 
described by Bjoern [1] would, perhaps, be even better.

[1] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-webapi/2008Apr/0137.html

-- 
Lachlan Hunt - Opera Software
http://lachy.id.au/
http://www.opera.com/

Received on Wednesday, 16 April 2008 21:36:50 UTC