Is target=_NEW good or evil?

[Thanol]

On one of my sites, if we ever add an offsite link that isn't target="_blank" or something like that, we get complaints.

[tedmauro]

I prefer a new window also and I know how to open pages in a new window but never think to do it. (lazy) I like when it happens on it's own. I've lost a couple of pages in the past and spent hours trying to find them.

[thing2b]

The target attribute on websites gets me nearly as annoyed as websites that use javascript in their links.

Javascript in the href part of links stops me opening them in new tabs.

[watley]

The target attribute is evil.

That is all. Thank you.

[JuggoPop]

you are welcome.
good day sir.

[RobS]

I use the _blank cos if the link is part of the content, I don't want to lose them and often I am sure some are like me, we open link in new tab, and read it when we finished on the page we are reading... (mine) as often there is more than one link.

I didn't know that _new only opens one extra window... so for my purpose whats best to use?

As for me.. I use right click..new tab.. ff alll the way..

Incidently there is an extension called "tab mix plus" I think.. which is great, it recovers if your browser crashes.. it also has a button to reopen accidently closed tabs, and new windows... well worth it for some of you by the looks of it...

[LazyJim]

Originally Posted by thing2b

The target attribute on websites gets me nearly as annoyed as websites that use javascript in their links.

Javascript in the href part of links stops me opening them in new tabs.

the javascript href is by far the worst, but the target doesn't much matter when you have ff and middle-click.

RobS
I use middle-click to open in a new tab, much faster and easier Also I have 'session saver' extension to save all tabs and reopen closed ones. (Sounds similar to tab mix plus).

[LazyJim]

Originally Posted by Thanol

On one of my sites, if we ever add an offsite link that isn't target="_blank" or something like that, we get complaints.

Indeed off-site links are the only places I'd concider using popups.

Perhaps with a little icon to indicate they are pop-ups. (which can be added using CSS, again using that class="popup" I mentioned above).

[RobS]

Middle click where? I don't understand that...

[vangogh]

Rob I control click to open in a new tab. I think it's all in the extension you use and the way you set it up.

I think tabbed browsing is going to make a lot of this issue irrelevant in time. I do use the target attribute sometimes, but for the most part I prefer not to see it used.

I'm not at all worried about people leaving my site through an external link. If I do a good enough job of providing quality content they'll come back.

As a user when someone forces a new window it takes control away from me. I know how to open the link in a new tab or window if I want. Maybe not everyone is doing this on their own at the moment, but given that IE7 included tabbed browsing I think it will become commonplace before long.

Since I have the choice already I don't need the site in question making the decision for me. I think there are times where you might want to have an new window open, but for the most part it's really not necessary. And while I have used it on my site and client's sites I'm always moving way from it and just letting the links open in the same window.

[LazyJim]

what vangogh said is about right (apart from below).

middle-click on the link to open in a new tab.
This is built-in to firefox no need of extensions for middle-click.
(click mouse's scroll-wheel if you have that in place of the middle button)

[RobS]

I dont get that... I click my scroll wheel on mouse.. and this little round things pops up where the cursor is?

[King Justice]

Erm, I've been trained to use target="new" without the underscore "_". Why are you using an underscore? The way I do it works fine in all the browsers I have used, and seems to do well with search engines.

Correct me if I'm wrong, though..

[waffles]

If I remember right, which may not even be the case, '_new' and/or '_blank' can be used as many times as you want without any ill effects. other names, like 'monkey' or 'keylimepie' can only be used once and, if used again, they will be over written. So you'd lose what was in the window before for what is in the window now.

[LazyJim]

Originally Posted by RobS

I dont get that... I click my scroll wheel on mouse.. and this little round things pops up where the cursor is?

yes same here, unless I click on a link which will open it in a new tab, I'm pretty sure this is standard.

Also try holding ctrl while spinning the scroll-wheel to shrink&grow the text size.

middle click tabs to close them and double click to clone them.

any more?

[Webnauts]

It depends for what you would use it and how you would implement it.

I wrote a tutorial about this issue, which you might would like to have a look: http://www.webnauts.net/new-window.html

[explicitzone.com]

Originally Posted by Ferre

I just don't want people to 'loose' my site when they click on links that point to other sites.

I hate it myself when I click on links on a site and loose the website that I was originally visiting.

Same here.

[LazyJim]

The fact is making all links the same and allowing the user to choose whether to left-click or middle-click depending on their preference is the simplest, easiest almost always the best solution from a usability point of view.

[gastongr]

I always use target="_blank" for links to external sites.
I hate when new windows open in front of the previous ones.
For that i use firefox, all the links open in a new tab .

[vangogh]

If you hate when new windows open in front of previous ones then why use target="_blank"

I think in short time so much of this issue will be moot as people get used to opening new tabs whenever they want.

Ideally I think most links should open in the same window and anytime you think it's important to open the link in a new window just make sure to mention it so someone knows what will happen before they click.