Opening links in a new tab or window?

[h-enk]

I'd like to follow current web practice (as much as possible) and Let the web be the web (as much as possible).

[..] isn't the general practice to open links leading to a new website in a new tab? If my users click on an external link then I'm losing them by directing them away from my site. I've rarely seen it done and I would rarely recommend it.

I think that's currently not the case. See e.g. US to lift Covid travel ban for vaccinated passengers from UK and most of EU — the Dame Karen Pierce link, or Web Quality Assurance: From User Requirements To Web Risk Management — the book about web quality assurance link.

Resources

• Opening links in a new tab or window is better avoided
• When to Open Links in a New Tab
• G200: Opening new windows and tabs from a link only when necessary

[timtorres]

Okay I'm onboard with this, thanks for sending the references and examples. I removed that function but am keeping the hook to open downloadable files in a new tab, I don't think that would go into Hyas though.

[h-enk]

I removed that function but am keeping the hook to open downloadable files in a new tab, I don't think that would go into Hyas though.

Correct.