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". 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 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 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, 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.
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.
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 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.
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
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