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Re: Icon instead of text > open in new window

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From: Birkir R. Gunnarsson
Date: May 8, 2017 8:13AM

Here is my 1.5 cents (opinions are getting cheap).

1. Notifying users that a link opens in a new window or tab is not a
WCAG A or AA requiements (as JOnathan already said), so you don't have
to worry about it from an accessibility compliance perspective,
however it is good usability to let users know that, even more so when
the link opens a video or a PDF document (change of user agent).
2. If you decide to put an icon on the link that notifies users of
this, it becomes a WCAG 1.1.1 requirement (because all meaningful
non-text content need a text alternative).

I recommend using the title attribute on the link to notify users.
If the image is a background image you can't use an alt attribute anyway.
If it is an <img> just set its alt to ""
<a href="#" title="opens in new window">Facebook <span
icon="external"></span></a>
or
<a href="#" title="opens in new window">Facebook <img
src="externalIcon.jpg" alt=""></a>

I agree that, in general, we should leave it to the user.
The exception is any help content links in a flow (because diverting
the user away from the flow cane make it difficult for them to return
to the flow, and will make them less likely to complete the flow).
I think all help or product links in a checkout flow, for instance,
should open in a new window or tab.
I also think all social media sharing icons should open in a new
window, just because it is such a different task from navigating the
website. But that is just my personal take and no standard.





On 5/8/17, Sophie Ragas < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> Well, I just want to give the user control of how he handles links, so I
> wouldn´t let links open in new windows at all. Let the user decide if he
> wants a new window or tab. I thought that that practice was generally
> recommended?
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Sophie
>
> 2017-05-08 15:02 GMT+02:00 Patrick H. Lauke < <EMAIL REMOVED> >:
>
>> On 08/05/2017 13:49, Sophie Ragas wrote:
>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> Just being the devils advocate here: I think that a Facebook-logo (or any
>>> other well-known site/platform) already implies for sighted users they
>>> are
>>> leaving the website they are currently on.
>>>
>>
>> But the question isn't about external vs internal links, but rather
>> whether or not the link opens a new window.
>>
>> P
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>>>
>>>
>>> Sophie
>>>
>>> 2017-05-08 14:31 GMT+02:00 <EMAIL REMOVED> < <EMAIL REMOVED> >:
>>>
>>> This works great even on touch devices.
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Srinivasu Chakravarthula
>>>> +91-9900810881
>>>> Sent on my phone. Excuse typos, if any.
>>>>
>>>> On 08-May-2017, at 17:00, Fernand van Olphen <
>>>>>
>>>> <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Something like this?
>>>>>
>>>>> https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG20/Techniques/working-examples/
>>>>>
>>>> G201/new-window.html
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> - Fernand
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> De disclaimer van toepassing op e-mail van de gemeente Den Haag vindt u
>>>>>
>>>> op: http://www.denhaag.nl/disclaimer
>>>>
>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>
>>>> >>> >>> >>> >>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>> Patrick H. Lauke
>>
>> www.splintered.co.uk | https://github.com/patrickhlauke
>> http://flickr.com/photos/redux/ | http://redux.deviantart.com
>> twitter: @patrick_h_lauke | skype: patrick_h_lauke
>> >> >> >> >>
> > > > >


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