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Re: Reason For Links Opening In New Window

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From: Gareth Dart
Date: Jan 5, 2007 5:30AM

Hi Kallie,

Best practice for this area may not agree with me, but I make it a rule of thumb to never spawn a new window via a link unless there is a very - and I mean VERY - compelling reason to do so. It's obviously a temptation to have any external links open in a new window/tab so one's own website remains visible, but try to resist this - especially as most modern browsers allow users to choose whether they want a link to open in a new tab anyway.

The reason is very simple - the user's BACK button will not behave as expected from the new window. They will click the link, the new window will open, they'll read for a bit, then click BACK to get back to your site, and nothing will happen. As well as being an accessibility issue, this is just plain annoying.

There are very few valid reasons for using new windows in this way. If you absolutely cannot get out of it, advise the user, preferably via a textual explanation of what the link will do.

Cheers,

G