Don’t force your users to open new windows…. even on external links.
There are many reasons why it is a bad idea and not many reasons to do it. There are maybe a few special cases where it is ok – but is it ever really necessary? Personally I like to control the opening of tabs myself – I use the right click frequently at times – when I’m researching I open heaps of tabs, then work my way through them. That doesn’t mean I want a website to forcibly open those links in new windows for me! Unless of course it is my webmail or feedreader service – then it’s practically obligatory.
Let us assume we are intelligent enough to adhere to standards and take advice from the experts. Let us assume we all want
- a good usability experience,
- an accessible website,
- a w3c html valid website and
- of course maximised seo, good analytics and happy clients.
And of course we’d like our plugin developers, wordpress developers, tinymce developers to help us in this mission. This research was done for my own use to determine what my plugins should do.
Summary:
- forcing new tabs or windows is bad for usability (seriously, studies have shown it is harmful)
- it is not recommended for accessibility
- the methods to do it can cause invalid html
- some folks think it doesn’t help your analytics (although one site had some thoughts on that)
- it is not necessary… so why do it? maybe just indicate an external link? or allow for optional js.
Who says no?
- Famous usability experts say it doesn’t help
- The US government advocates against forcing new windows or tabs
- the United Nations also advocates against forcing new windows or tabs
- Web Designers say so (see below)
Possible reasons to force a new window on external links?
But I want to keep the user on my site…..
“Marketers love it because it allows them to link to external content without taking the reader off the page.”
This is a reasonable fear for a client to have. The user leaving the site and not being able to get back….In every single usability test I’ve done, opening external content in a new window makes this problem worse – not better.
quoted from the Stack exchange usability forum
Special cases perhaps?
- webmail,
- feed readers,
- long lists of external resources.
If we need to do it, what is best way to deal with external links?
Best ways to handle external links
Indicate the external link.
See how Wikipedia does it. It classes links as external with a css class. That css class is then styled with a background image. It provides a clear visual clue as suggested here. The css is something like:
a.external { background: url(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Icon_External_Link.svg") no-repeat scroll right center transparent; padding-right: 13px;}
OR
a[rel=external]
....
Force it open anyway?
If you really truly must force open a new tab or window on an external link, consider:
target=”_blank” is invalid html
- It works, but it is invalid html for all but html1 transitional doc types
rel=”external” or rel=”external nofollow”
- needs javascript to load on your website (additional load)
- microformats.org/wiki/rel-external
- forums.digitalpoint.com/threads/what-is-rel-external-nofollow.136587/
data-rel=”external nofollow”
- data-* is allowed.
- a similar javascript solution can be used
- w3.org…embedding-custom-non-visible-data-with-the-data-attributes
- jquerymobile.com/demos/1.1.1/docs/api/data-attributes.html
WordPress and external links
I’m a wordpress plugin developer. Sadly at stage of writing there doesn’t seem to be a consistent approach in wordpress. Perhaps it’s tinymc’s fault – can it be configured ?
post author or comment author links in twenty-twelve theme
- uses “rel=”external nofollow”,
- but by default there is no js to force a window open
wordpress.org links in meta sidebar or footer
- no attributes, so not an issue
Links or link manager plugin
- links are no longer a default feature in new sites, but can be added with link manager plugin
- option to add target=”” and rel=(but only real relationships), not forced
Links in posts
- (if added using visual editor’s insert link), then we get target=”_blank” ?
- it’s tinymce allowing users to select ‘open in new window’ – can it be disabled?
external link plugins
even plugins that aim to help you manage outbound links note that opening new windows may have detrimental effects. Semilogic suggests users may think you used a pop-under.
Wordpress related discussions and requests:
- lucdebrouwer.nl/cleaning-up-the-target_blank-in-your-wordpress-post/
- schutt.org/blog/2011/01/not-opening-windows/
- donkeymedia.eu/2010/08/29/remove-depreceated-target_blank-wordpress-tinymce/
- core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/22442#comment:8
- http://www.tyssendesign.com.au/articles/cms/removing-unwanted-fields-tinymce-image-link-popups/
- http://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-to-disable-open-in-new-window?replies=7
- http://wordpress.org/support/topic/removing-target-option-from-tinymce-link-popup?replies=1
References:
Accessibility guidelines:
- w3.org/TR/WCAG10-TECHS/#tech-avoid-pop-ups
- webaim.org/techniques/hypertext/hypertext_links#new_window
Usability advice on external links and new windows:
- http://www.nngroup.com/articles/top-10-mistakes-web-design/ (2012)
- http://www.nngroup.com/articles/the-top-ten-web-design-mistakes-of-1999/ (a debate since 1999)
- http://line25.com/articles/top-5-web-design-debates-that-cause-the-most-riots
- https://managewp.com/should-you-open-links-in-new-windows
- http://www.webpagemistakes.ca/linking-out/
- http://10up.com/blog/2012/08/usability-considerations-new-tab-window/
- http://usabilitygeek.com/15-usability-guidelines-for-designing-web-site-links/
- a satirical view – Seven Easy Ways to Annoy Visitors to Your Website
- http://uxdesign.smashingmagazine.com/2008/07/01/should-links-open-in-new-windows/
Web design advice on target=”_blank”
- http://ux.stackexchange.com/questions/5397/whats-your-take-on-target-blank
- http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4666523/xhtml-strict-1-0-target-blank-not-valid
- http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3970746/html-how-to-force-links-to-open-in-a-new-tab-not-new-window
Contrary Arguments
One argument for new windows on external links, but many comments questioning this advice
Need help discussing with your clients?
Some tips on discussing decisions like these: