Is target=_NEW good or evil?

[ali_420]

I read in a web accessibility article somewhere that its not a good practice to use the target=_NEW attribute when making links in your website.

Well, it makes sense not to use it in menus, navigation bars, etc. But in an article for example, or a forum post, I always hate to have to right click and open in a new window/tab for each link. Bloglines links all the links in the posts using an _NEW and i love it for that feature!

What're your thoughts?

[waffles]

I always use blank. From what I've heard (and this might be wrong, so don't take is as instant truth) naming the target '_new' just opens something in a window named _new and another link doing the same will use that same window.

But back to the intent of the question. I do it everytime I link to something that isn't on my site.

[NQUK]

While "good design" prohibits the use of any target, I've always thought that nuts if you are linking off site.

I always use target for offsite links.

[JuggoPop]

i think the reason it's bad to open in a new window is that it's difficult for the blind.

[vangogh]

I'm guessing the original article was from Jakob Neilsen on useit. I think he made some valid points, but I'm not really sure there's one and only one answer to the question.

I've been having this discussion quite a bit lately and seen it on a number of forums. I think for many it's really just a personal preference, though like JuggoPop I've heard it's an issue with screen readers to have a new window open.

I've also see where some have said some pop up blockers block the target=_ way. Doesn't sound right, but maybe.

Personally I prefer to have the links open in the same window. I know how to open them in a new window or tab if I want so I don't need the webmaster to set it up for me. Generally when I click to a new site I'm sending the new page to a new tab anyway and really couldn't even tell how the orignal link was coded.

[3speed]

I think the main issue with opening links in a new window is that it effectively "breaks" the back button which can be confusing, particularly for visually impaired users. I have also seen this with older users and those who are new to the internet, who don't realise they have to close the window to get back to where they were.

Most of the time, I much prefer links to open in the same window. If I'm enjoying the site I'm on, I'm not going to instantly forget about it. Frequently I just open new links in a new tab anyway, like vangogh said. It's annoying to end up with several different windows open.

There are some contexts when I think it works however. In this forum, for example, if I click on a link to someone's website, I probably only want a quick look at it, so I appreciate it opening in a new window. I think opening pages in a new window works when you're only going to want to look at it for a few seconds.

In general, I think you should give control to the web user.

[JuggoPop]

Originally Posted by vangogh

I've also see where some have said some pop up blockers block the target=_ ...

happens to me all the time.

[LazyJim]

Incase you didn't know, if you have multiple links using target="_new" they will all re-use the same window, whereas the more commonly used target="_blank" will open a separate window each and every time.

From a code point of view, the target attribute is being phased out of HTML because it suggests behaviour, and we aim to keep the code for presentation, behaviour and content all separate.

JavaScript can be used instead - and should be as JavaScript is where behaviours are specified. (But don't shove it in the onclick attribute as that would not make it separate from the HTML!) You can set up a class for links that open new window, e.g. <a class="popup" href="www.example.com">link (opens in new window)</a>, then add javascript function to intercept link activations on those elements that have the relevant class. (note that this can easily be turned off or changed in the future without searching though all your code for the right links!)

From a usability point of view pop-ups are questionable, as many users can become confused. 'DHTML' layer pop-ups would be preferable, or even a 'modal dialogue' but the advantage of using the target attribute instead is most common browsers support it even when JavaScript is turned off.

The number one rule for all links:
Only use pop-ups where they make sense, are necessary and you can't think of a better way.

Rule number two:
Make sure you have a proper href so users can choose to over-ride your JavaScript.

[chicgeek]

I used to be an addict to target="_new".
Thanks to many years of therapy and my sponsor I am now cured.

No, but really, I don't recommend using it. Many reasons stated above. Usually people would use it to ensure the reader stays on their site somehow, but I figure that's what the back button is for. If they were going to read your stuff anyway, they will return.

[JuggoPop]

could throw off your site stats too (I would think)... if I visit your site and within 5 seconds click a link that opens a new window and I then I spend 5 hours surfing the net with your site open in the background...

would it not show that I was on your site that long? you'd never know exactly how long people were actually at your site.

right?

[Ferre]

I always use the _blank tag in links that point to websites outside my own but fail to see why I should use this for links pointing to pages on my own site, 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.

[JuggoPop]

Originally Posted by Ferre

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

I control that myself, shift + link click.

[chicgeek]

Originally Posted by JuggoPop

I control that myself, shift + link click.

Middle click in FF. Or I use my advanced mouse gestures. Love em.

[LazyJim]

Originally Posted by JuggoPop

I control that myself, shift + link click.

I used to do that when I used IE.

Originally Posted by chicgeek

Middle click in FF.

Now I do this too!

I've got FF to disable common pop-up links, because I'd rather choose for myself when I want a new tab or window. The only problem, as with other issues like page width and text-size, is: do the end-users know how to take control, or do they need us to decide for them???

[chicgeek]

Originally Posted by LazyJim

Now I do this too!

Which? Middle click or mouse gestures?

MG has made my forum experience supremely faster.

[LazyJim]

middle - just edited guestures out of the quote in my post :p

[chicgeek]

Riiight. Anyway, you should try the gesture.

[theChronic]

i think the reason it's bad to open in a new window is that it's difficult for the blind.

doubting that many blind folk are bodybuilders, i hope i'm safe.

and to hell with alll pop up blockers that block my target _blank attribute!

now with firefox i've become so accustomed to right click > open in new tab that i forget about the days of loving when people would open off site windows in a new window.

what is the diff between NEW and BLANK? i forget

[JuggoPop]

Originally Posted by theChronic

doubting that many blind folk are bodybuilders, i hope i'm safe.

hmmm... these guys & gals might care.

Blind Bodybuilder's Association
2314 River Park Circle, #2111
Orlando, FL 32817-4828

The Blind Bodybuilders Association is a nonprofit organization founded to promote physical fitness and better health for blind individuals through weight training and exercise. BBA publishes "The Muscle Gazette," a newsletter available in large print or on four-track cassette.

Originally Posted by theChronic

what is the diff between NEW and BLANK? i forget

Blank opens a new window... anything else assigns a name to the window and other clicked links assigned to the same name then also open in that same window (ie not a new window everytime, only the first time)