Drawar Thread: Should links open in new windows/tabs?

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

Nobes — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 02:32:59

I think you need to decide this on a link to link basis. Put yourself in the user's shoes and try to decide whether it would be convenient to still have your site very easily accessed via a tab/window.

I often get annoyed by sites that don't open new tabs/windows, then I need to look through my history to go back to it, so I think that kind of influenced me to use _blank more.

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

realepicurean — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 09:20:04

Same window. Target has been depreciated so we can't use that anymore (or break our shiny strict validation). Of course, "target" is depreciated for a reason; the general accesibility concensus that the user should be able to choose the target for a link that is clicked.

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

michaellouviere — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 02:10:25

Wow, Prime example of why designing for our target audience is important. If a visitor to my site gets confused over a few new tabs or windows, then they will be really confused when they read anything I write about.

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

popstalin — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 21:20:27

Same window for me—I think opening links in a new window is a sure-fire way to lose visitors, not keep them.

I've actually watched people get confused when lots of links open new windows/tabs and can never find their way back to where they were but everyone knows how to use the back button and it seems less frustrating for the less Internet-savvy folk.

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

Oli — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 21:16:53

I've always sent people away on target _blank. Partly habitual, partly not wanting them to leave my site.

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

mringlein — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 19:12:38

I personally always believe that one should keep a user on your site as much as possible -- when sending them to a third-party, send them in a new window.

However, I've been involved in a lot of usability studies regarding this matter and we've found that what joe-user loves and is dependent on more than anything else is the infamous "back button". It was such a disruptive experience for many of our test users to be sent off to a third part site into a new window and have nothing happen when they hit the back button (their immediate reaction).

I've recently been an advocate lately for not opening a new window and keeping the user in the same browser experience in all situations. Letting the user know that there is a consistent behavior with an action (clicking a link) -- and leaving the change in that behavior to the user (who can opt on their behalf to open the link in a new window/tab).

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

Michael — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 14:27:02

This note here is proof that we are all geeks. :) I think the answer depends on the situation. I know a lot of ecommerce sites like to use the "blank" thingy so that shoppers don't loose their place in line.

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

michaellouviere — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 11:29:39

I agree bgilham, when links don't act the way I expect them to I leave the site too, but then again, when they open in the same window, I've already left.

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

cpoteet — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 05:32:39

Avoid at all cost.

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

RuDdY — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 22:14:29

You always learn something new, I didn't even know about CTRL+Click opening a link in a new tab. This would have saved me so much stress in the past! Where have I been?

I think its obvious, but I prefer new tabs also.

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

JPhill — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 21:58:06

I used to have links open in a new window, but I stopped doing that and let the users decide.

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

avuee — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 20:17:35

I think so. It's easier for browsing. But then again, there are those OCD screen nuts who like having a clean desktop and don't want to clutter it up with other windows. So it's a toss up.

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

bgilham — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 16:11:08

I'm with Cyrris, I leave it up the user. Like you said, modern browsers allow the user to easily open a link into a new window or tab if they choose. Why wouldn't I just leave it up to them? When links don't act the way I expect it's one of the fastest ways to make me leave a site.

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

JustinKistner — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 15:37:39

I always spawn a new window on my external links. I think it's useful to the user, although the target attribute has been deprecated. If you use onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" and the use your URL as normal in the href value, then it will validate and still work if the user has Javascript disabled.

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

Cyrris — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 14:53:18

I now always make sure that on sites I run, all links open in the same window. If I want a new tab I will middle-click, or right-click for the context menu. I hate sites which open new window after new window when I don't want them to. FiringSquad used to be terrible for this but they've since gotten better.

As I see it, one way gives the user a choice, the other doesn't. I don't like having decisions about my own browser's behaviour taken away from me while I surf.

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

michaellouviere — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 14:29:49

It depends on what the link points to. For me, I have some thumbnails that point to the full-size version of the image. So I have those links open in new tabs/windows for the most part. Also, I like external links to open in new tabs/windows. I try to keep external links to a minimal, but when I do add one to my linkroll, I don't add it in hopes to deter users away from my site, which I believe is more likely when it opens in the same window. Make them physically exit your site, don't do it for `em!

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

publicenergy — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 13:41:22

I always think open where it is in the current window is best. If I want to open it in a new tab or window then I can right-click and choose one of those two options.

It must be the case that most links are opened in the current window, or we'd all have a huge amount of tabs or windows open after an half hour of surfing! ;)

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

Alvinz — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 12:40:01

Personally I don't like when things open in new windows, 'cause then I usually have to bother closing the original window. If I want to go to a link, then I should go to it straight away, without any extra fanciful stuff.

But that's my personal opinions. Most professional sites open external links in new windows or tabs, so maybe you should follow their examples.

In the end, it all comes down to the webmasters personal choice.

Should links open in new windows/tabs?

chapstick — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 12:30:26

To clarify that title, I'm mainly talking about external links. When you're on a web site and click on a link that takes you to another site, should that site open in a new window or tab? In other words, should a web designer use 'target=_blank'?

With todays current browsers I think they should. A year or two ago I would of said no, let's keep everything in the same window. But now most major browsers have tabs, and I love them.

And now when I browse or design, I always want an external link to open in a new tab (in most cases I'll CTRL+click just to be sure). That way I can stay on the original page in case I want to go back to it quickly.

But that's just what I think. Every now and then I do read some web design guides that tell you not open links in new windows/tabs and that it's not a good design practice. But what do you guys think? Should external links open a new window/tab?