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Re: Links open in new tab or window in LMS

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From: Swift, Daniel P.
Date: Oct 5, 2018 11:05AM


Thanks for the clarification, Glen - much appreciated!

Dan Swift
Senior Web Specialist
Enterprise Services
West Chester University
610.738.0589

-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of glen walker
Sent: Friday, October 5, 2018 12:51 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Links open in new tab or window in LMS

You're not necessarily wrong, but there isn't a WCAG requirement that a link must indicate it opens in a new window. 2.4.4 talks about the link purpose, and if the purpose of the link (go to site "foo") is understood, then whether that link opens in the same window or a new window is somewhat separate. You might argue that part of the "purpose" is to also tell the user it will open in a new window, but 2.4.4 doesn't specifically say that. That's why it's more of a usability issue, as Joe stated.

And in general, and this is a super broad statement, accessibility deals with things that are available to some users but not others. That is, equal access is not given to all users. If all users have the same access, then it's typically not an accessibility issue. In this case, if the link does not indicate it opens a new window, meaning no users know it will open in a new window, then it's not an accessibility issue. It's a usability issue. All users have the same access and get the same (bad) experience.

Glen