WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Question about links opening in new tabs/windows

for

From: Greg Gamble
Date: Dec 3, 2013 8:54AM

In my standard of handling links, if it's an outside link then it opens a new tab or window, and is marked with a tool tip stating a new windows will be opening. If the link is internal it stays on the same tab or windows. I'd think this would be the preferred way of handling links, especially for those concerned with web site marketing.


Greg


-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED> [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Jared Smith
Sent: Monday, December 02, 2013 4:52 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Question about links opening in new tabs/windows

Birkir R. Gunnarsson wrote:

> Out of curiosity, what WCAG SC would you call it out if there is a
> visual indication that a link opens in a new window but this is not
> apparent in link text or programmatically?

1.1.1.

It seems a stretch to make this fit into 4.1.2.

> All that being said, it can sometimes be convenient to have links open
> in a new window, for instance TWitter links on your timeline.

Yep. If done consistently to all links, this can be useful in certain applications, though in standard web pages, it's just a pain. When all links in an application consistently open in a new tab/window, I can easily argue that providing a visual indication for all of these links would simply clutter the interface and make it less accessible.

Jared