External links

[ses5909]

Do you have external links open in a new window (or tab)???

Do you have any reason for doing what you do?

[Michael Martin]

No, I just let them open in the current window. As more and more people get used to tabbed browsing, I think this is one area where it's usually a good thing to leave the user in control of their browsing. :)

I've written about it before in an article: New Window for a New Link? (http://www.problogdesign.com/blog-usability/new-window-for-a-new-link/) (In retrospect, I'm not entirely sure what i meant by "new link" though! xD )

[deronsizemore]

I open everything in a new tab.

[davemcnally]

I usually open links in new tabs too so just leave it up to the person browsing.

[shyflower]

I'm with Michael on this one. I don't know how it works on Mac, but on PC a right click will open a new tab if they want one.

[BPartch]

I never decide where users should open links, I leave it to them to choose where they want to open the link.

[doorlight]

When the tabbing thing was not yet around, I always make sure my external links target to new window but now I stopped doing that. It's up to my visitors whether they want to stay in that window or not.

whew.

[rodaniel]

Given that much of my site's intended audience is comprised of older and/or very inexperienced surfers, I don't assume that they are using a tab-enabled browser - or they'll know how to wheel-click (or Ctrl-click) a link to make it open in a new tab even if they are. So, I do set external links to open in a new browser window.

This isn't a control issue for me - it's a "trying to help the noobs" thing. I respect that it can be considered "spammy" or rude to push this on my readers, but I still think the good it does outweighs the potential bad.

However, I always use the TITLE attribute in my hyperlinks to indicate that an outbound link is going to spawn a new browser window. Dunno if anyone actually notices these little tooltips, but, hey... It's worth a shot!

[ses5909]

That is a different take on it Rob, but I definitely think it is a legitimate one.

[Prettyfem]

We have discussed links opening in a new window or the same window on Blogger Talk Blog Forum in the past. This is still a debatable topic. Darren Rowse also has an article on his blog where he asked his readership if links should open in a new window. 54% said new window 46% said same window. I use to open links in a new window, but I now consider it to be a rude practice. In my opinion it is like forcing your preferences upon your readership. I always right click and open a link in a new window or I use my tabs. Lorelle Van Fossen has a great list of things she wants gone from the web in 2007. One of them is links opening in new windows. She says "They are not user-friendly and violate web and accessibility standards." I agree.