Should web pages open links to external sites in a new browser window?
Yes.
39% (24 votes)
Yes, if the external link is indicated semantically and visually.
33% (20 votes)
No.
25% (15 votes)
I'm not sure.
3% (2 votes)
Total votes: 61
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Comments
I created this poll after
I created this poll after being surprised by two quite negative responses to my article about opening external links in new window without using "target". I'm curious to see if prevailing opinion really is strongly against it or if those two anonymous posters were just self-selected statistical anomalies.
In addition to your vote, I'm also interested in your more detailed thoughts on the topic, so I encourage you to leave a comment explaining them.
The answer should be "no".
The answer should be "no". We should let the user decide.
However, we don't have a choice. Our client decides for us. Clients believe (parhaps correctly) that the users are stupid; that the users don't know it's possible to open a link in a new windows so as not to leave the site. And you know what? I believe they are correct. The users I know are all stupid.
I personaly open all links in a new tab, so I don't care what the site designer has in mind.
I find that the proper
I find that the proper behavior for me is dependent on the "type" of site. For sites I visit regularly, I don't care which they do because I learn whether they do it for me or not - but I prefer to have the option (e.g. on Reddit) to set it to do the one I want.
On sites that are single visit type sites, I like it when they open a new window if there are many links on a page such that I'd want to look at more than one. If it is a "terminal" link, then I like it to reuse the same window.
I always hate it when they do it using a javascript command.
A warning that the page will
A warning that the page will open in a new window is good. For pages that open in a new window I always present text near the link that indicates this. I think for the most part I have my external links open in the same window.
Sometimes it's nice to have the site open in a new tab/window, other times it's a nuisance. It depends on the context.
As a user, one workaround for links that open in new windows, when I don't want them to, is to drag the link to the tab bar at the top of the window so they open in a new tab in that window, or in at least one browser I use (Safari), I can drag a link to the tab it's in, and that makes the link open in that current tab. :-)
If your users using IE 6/5,
If your users using IE 6/5, it's a little annoying sometimes.
However, if users using muti tabed browers like Maxthon/Myie, Firefox/Opera, most time I feel it's very convenient and effiecient to surff on the Net.
Hope this hopes.
Yes. But the user should be
Yes.
But the user should be warned about new browser window.
The argument for forcing new
The argument for forcing new windows is usually "I don't want to lose the visitor"... but the visitor can still close your page as soon as the new one pops up. If the visitor doesn't want to leave then they can just as easily open a new window or tab.
The _blank value should never have been invented.
p.s. An icon notifying the visitor can help prevent the surprise, however the visitor still loses the ability to use the current window or tab for the link.
Now I'm off to find a way to disable _blank in Firefox, I should have found a way to do this a long time ago.
Yes. But it has to be
Yes.
But it has to be visually marked (8px icon is the best way I can imagine)
External links should be
External links should be opened in another window. I hate it when I have to hit back to go on the site I was previously on. motoare de cautare
Well, if a person wanted too
Well, if a person wanted too they could make a small "new window" icon to place beside each link to allow the visitor to decide. So, why even vote about it. That's actually not a bad idea now that I've thought of it. I think I might use it.
On sites that are single
On sites that are single visit type sites, I like it when they open a new window if there are many links on a page such that I'd want to look at more than one. If it is a "terminal" link, then I like it to reuse the same window.
This is how I have it set up
This is how I have it set up on my website. I think it really depends on what your website is all about.
thanks...most of my sites
thanks...most of my sites are open in new windows for security reasons...;) that was an informational poll there
i look at it to be a good
i look at it to be a good behavior for me is dependent on the "type" of site. For sites I visit regularly, I don't care which they do because I learn whether they do it for me or not - but I prefer to have the option (e.g. on Reddit) to set it to do the one I want.
thanks for giving me that chance to comment
This is how I have it set up
This is how I have it set up on my website. I think it really depends on what your website is all about.
For pages that open in a new
For pages that open in a new window I always present text near the link that indicates this. I think for the most part I have my external links open in the same window.
Sometimes it's nice to have the site open in a new tab/window, other times it's a nuisance. It depends on the context.
The answer should be "no". We
The answer should be "no". We should let the user decide
I think that the site should
I think that the site should open in a new window, after all it is more convenient. So I for
Come on my site:
rapidshare links
he argument for forcing new
he argument for forcing new windows is usually "I don't want to lose the visitor"... but the visitor can still close your page as soon as the new one pops up. If the visitor doesn't want to leave then they can just as easily open a new window or tab.
The _blank value should never have been invented.
p.s. An icon notifying the visitor can help prevent the surprise, however the visitor still loses the ability to use the current window or tab for the link.
Now I'm off to find a way to disable _blank in Firefox, I should have found a way to do this a long time ago.
thanks for the great post and
thanks for the great post and information. i will look forward to read from you later.
I Agree. Good site
I
Agree.
Good site
I feel very strongly that
I feel very strongly that they should open in a new tab/window. I think it does me a favor because I very rarely want to close what I am reading that has the link and it’s just more work to have to navigate back to it. I would rather just be able to click on the tab siti di casinò online to get back to it. Sure I can use a keyboard shortcut to open a link in a new tab/window but it makes things easier if I don’t have to.I know others don’t like links opening in a new tab/window. I think it comes down to browsing style. I am a infoholic so I can have a lot of tabs open. Some people don’t use tabs as much, they just use the back button a lot
No, depend to user to
No, depend to user to decide.
Cheers,
www.perniagaan-internet.smarttorich.com
It was developed with and
It was developed with and tested using Mozilla Firefox. It's a hack, though, so you may need to tweak it for computability with other web browsers or with other scripts in your tracking code Jacks or Better box (including Google tracking code). It may also stop working at any time so please use it with caution. For this reason you may need to rework it a bit for computability.Also, we haven't yet scheduled the release of a feature allowing control over the opening of external links in a new window, but I'll be sure to add a vote to this request.
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