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4jZW7jVSdS4U6PC's avatar

Post link with target="_blank"

This may sounds stupid but whenever I click on a link inside a post, comment or even the "Github-flavored" link when you are writing a new Conversation, the actual page is refreshed.

I think it's better if every link inside the forum has the target="_blank" attribute on it.

0 likes
19 replies
clemenger's avatar

You have a bright future ahead of you. Go be free.

1 like
4jZW7jVSdS4U6PC's avatar

@andrewmclagan have you ever heard about User Experience ? I'm talking about that ... of course I can ctrl+click all the things but that's not the point because you can also use this site without even the CSS but it's all about UI/UX so please don't troll.

4 likes
thepsion5's avatar

I would also prefer all external links to open in a new window.

4 likes
Shovels's avatar

I think this has been raised before and Jeffrey did add some links with the _blank target set - But personally I'd prefer it if the links were left to their default behaviour.

@ludo237 mentioned UX - it's generally accepted that changing the default behaviour is bad UX and that it should be left to the user to decide how to open the link. (I'm saying this quickly before @bashy notices us UX people moaning again ;)

1 like
mstnorris's avatar

No. As others have said above, it is up to the browser (and ultimately the end user) to decide how to handle links. If I want to open it up in a new tab or a new window I can do that very simply.

If anything, adding _blank to links goes against UX principles.

bashy's avatar
bashy
Best Answer
Level 65

If you want to talk UX again, try load a lesson into a new window without changing the current lesson page. Enjoy.

Every outbound link which is on a page with a form should be opened in a new tab by default. It's better to do that than make someone angry that they lost their text. There should be an auto save on the text maybe ;)

1 like
JeffreyWay's avatar

@bashy - Just command + click on the link itself, rather than the main lesson block/rectangle thing.

JeffreyWay's avatar

@ludo237 - I just clicked on the "Github-flavored" links. Both of them open in a new tab... Did I miss something?

bashy's avatar

@JeffreyWay Yeah that works but the whole thing is linked via JavaScript which doesn't allow for new tab :)

puzbie's avatar

_blank should only be used when you want to pull up something like terms and conditions. Personally I hate winding up with loads of tabs opened. I would much rather rely on standard navigation. If that doesn't work, fix that, rather than use a workaround.

bustyjiggs's avatar

if you want users to stay on the same/current webpage use target="_blank" on links ... clicking is the default behavior of most users on links, so make their click action send them where you want them to go(or stay)

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