Open A New Browser Window. Annoying or Helpful?

Monday, July 21, 2008
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Annoying or Helpful… zat is zee keston…

Carol kindly brought up this subject although I’ve been mulling over the idea in my head for a while now. She asked for my blog to automatically open a new browser window when she clicks on a link to a different website (also known as an external or offsite link). She’s not the first internet user to request this feature.

More and more websites make their external links open new windows as a way to keep the user on their website longer. It seems logical and every client I’ve worked with so far asked me to make this happen.

But… the web design community preaches that doing this will upset and annoy the user (you Carol). If that is true… they why do my users keep requesting this feature? It seems like the community speaks “as if” without any actual research.

What the Community Says

Site Point Says: Disorients novice users, breaks the back button, clutters the taskbar, and disrespects by assuming user desire. Jenn Says: Even novice users expect links to other sites to open a new window. Plus, all the newest browsers use tabbed browsing so clutter is a non-issue. And if we let an external link open in the current window, we assume the user desires this.

Blogging Without A Blog Says: Some users want to go back to the original website, so if the different website opens in a new window, they save a click. Jenn Says: This makes sense, I’m always looking for a way to save a click (right clicks included). But, users with disabilities (blind, etc.) will probably have issues using their special browsers.

I guess it basically comes down to creating a positive user experience. I want to engage my readers, not annoy them. So, instead of assuming let’s have the Daily Twaddle readers decide! Carol, we already know your preference, but you should vote anyway.

{poll removed – deleted democracy widget}

By the way… if you’re looking for a script to open new windows on your own website… check out this thread at Six Apart.

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7 Comments

  1. Shane
    Monday, July 21, 2008 at 9:48 am

    Opening links in a new window sucks! It breaks the “thread” of hyperlinks that got me where I am now.

    That being said, there are a few sites where a new window (or tab) is appropriate. These sites are typically aggregates of content from other sites, like feed readers or news aggregation sites (Google News, Digg, etc…)

    I like the way that Digg provides the logged in user with a choice in their user preferences.

    I say for a weblog, no new window. If I am reading your blog, your links should take me to something that provides a useful insight into what your post was about, and I should be able to easily return to the post once I have finished with the linked information.

  2. Jenn
    Monday, July 21, 2008 at 10:56 am

    I voted no as well because I browse the same way. I like to choose myself.

    I just set up this blog to open offsite links in a new window. But I will change it to whatever the majority wants.

    Thanks for voting!

  3. Mike Foley
    Monday, July 21, 2008 at 10:28 pm

    I guess I don’t browse like you two. I like a new window when I’m leaving a site, because if I don’t find anything useful on the linked page I often close the page instead of hitting the back button.

    Also, I like to open the link in a new page so I can toggle back and forth between the two pages without losing my place on either one (my workstation has two monitors).

    I think it just goes to show you that different users browse in different ways. No matter what you do you’re likely to piss off at least a third of the populace (just like politics!).

  4. Jenn
    Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 8:57 am

    No kidding Mike, it’s a toss up. Thanks for voting! Now I’m really curious how everyone prefers this setting.

    The best thing would be for browsers to allow users to set preferences to handle specific types of links. I wish that were a possibility. I guess they’re becoming more customizable – maybe this will be a feature someday.

    How to manually open a new window:
    Firefox: CTRL+click on link
    Safari: Cmd+click on link
    IE7: CTRL+click on link

  5. Sterling "Chip" Camden
    Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 1:04 pm

    In Firefox it’s as simple as using middle-click instead of left-click.

  6. Jenn
    Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 8:33 pm

    Hi Chip! Dangit… I have a one-click Apple mouse. Interesting… the ratings surprise me…

  7. Carol
    Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 7:42 am

    HA! I just outnumbered the “no” vote!! Sorry it took me so long to get here. Dang, I feel like I contributed to something computer related. Jenn, I miss you….badly.

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