The use of _blank...

I just wanted to get everyones views on this matter.

Obviously target="_blank" has been scraped from the web standards and will now bring up a validation error when used.

There is a JS workaround using the rel="" attribute which works fine and brings up no errors because the validator doesn't know what happens to the code after it is initially processed.

My question is should we be using this? After reading a few articles around the Internet I am under the impression we shouldn't. Obviously if it has been scraped from the standards its for a reason - making the users choice of how they want to open the link is limiting their choice and therefore against accessibility...

But for example earlier I wrote a tutorial on favicons, in which I have a link to a favicon generator, now this is the sort of thing where I would have thought would be correct to use _blank. The user will want to go to the site, generate their icon, and then come back to my tutorial and continue through it, rather than navigate away from my page - generate their icon - have to navigate back to my page to carry on.

I can understand that it is good practice not to use it, so you don't clutter the users taskbar/tab bar with windows but in my example what do you reckon?

I'd love to hear eveyones views on this as I plan on possibly writing a blog article on the matter.

Mike

No, we shouldn't.

Don't assume that you know how your users want to navigate. When you launch a new browser window without their expecting it, they may become disoriented. The back button won't work, and they wonder what happened to your page!

Users can choose to open links in a new window if they want to. Don't force it on them. It's annoying.

With tabbed browsing becoming commonplace, this is largely redundant anyway. The user can open the link in a new tab, then have the article and the icon-generating-page side-by-side.

A user who becomes disoriented by a new window opening up will not necessarily know how to open links in new windows. I think you are making assumptions about the users knowledge of web navigation. If I wanted to open a popup I would use JS as it is behaviour but most often as, mike said, it isn't necessary. I do believe there are real usability advantages to be gained by using popup windows but only in certain circumstances.

We cannot make this decision for you, it comes down to your personal opinion. In your situation I would rewrite the tutorial. Introduce the idea, send them off to make the icon and then tell them to come back to complete the tutorial. But that is just me.

Pete.

Learn Ajax then you won't need to worry about Pop-up windows. But I agree with MikeHopley on this matter. Even my mother knows how to right click and "Open Link in New Window" and she doesn't even know how to type a Url in an address bar. She goes to MSN.com and types it in the search engine then selects it. Thats the only way she knows how to do it. So, if my mom can figure it out I believe most people know how to do this.

As far as pop-ups go, if something pops up on my page its blocked and I never see it. I hate pop-ups and don't allow them.

Ok Cool.

Thanks all of you for your replies. I think I understand a bit more but I also agree with Pete's point that they might not know how to open in new window. My mum certainly doesn't! She can browse the net alrite tho.

One of the most important principles of usability is to not make assumptions.

Pete.

To be honest my personal opinion is to use a new window only if it makes sense to do so.... if it doesnt, then either dont do it, or inform the user that a new window will be used.

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Rob - Webforumz Founder

Yeah, I agree with Rob, at least tell them "Hey, I'm opening up a new window" because I don't allow any pop ups whatsoever on my browser. I've never seen a pop-up that was worth my time, so I block every last one of them.

There are ways around pop up blockers.... but then, you should still use common sense and keep informing the user a priority of mind!

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Rob - Webforumz Founder

should not use javascript pop up, most of them will be blocked, _blank is not javasript and will not be blocked by Windows or google, yahoo toolbar.

Thanh Nguyen
- Danh bạ web,danh ba web - Thư mục web, danh ba web, danh bạ web

No but it is invalid.

And it is behaviour which should separated from content just as presentation should be.

Pete.