How to Open Link in a New Tab in HTML?
Łukasz Holeczek
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Opening a link in a new tab is a fundamental skill for anyone building modern websites or web applications. By using specific HTML attributes, you can help your users effortlessly view external content or switch between related pages without losing their place on the original page. In this article, you will learn why the target attribute is crucial, how to properly handle potential security concerns, and the best techniques to open the linked document in a separate browser window or tab. Read on to discover how you can enhance user experience and stay in control of your own site’s navigation flow.
Key Concepts and Terms
In HTML, an anchor tag—written as <a>—is used to create a hyperlink that leads users to another page or resource. The href attribute is where you include the linked URL (e.g., href="https://coreui.io") so the browser knows which document or website to open. By default, most hyperlinks open in the same tab. However, to open a link in a new tab or window, you adjust the target attribute.
targetattribute: Controls how the browser handles the linked document or linked page.hrefattribute specifies: Tells your HTML parser exactly which linked URL to fetch.relattribute: Helps define the relationship between the original page and the newly opened tab, often used for security measures.
Using target="_blank"
When you want to open the linked document in a new tab, you typically use target="_blank". This target value instructs the browser to create a new page, also known as a new tab or window. For example:
<a href="https://coreui.io/bootstrap/docs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Explore CoreUI Docs</a>
In the code above, the target="_blank" rel="noopener" combination ensures that a new tab will open and prevents any potential security vulnerabilities. Without the rel="noopener noreferrer" tags, certain malicious sites could gain partial access to the original tab through the global window object. This can be exploited for phishing attacks or unauthorized data access.
Understanding Security Implications
Anytime a user clicks a hyperlink open in a new page, you should consider the risk of external links and external content gaining partial access to your document. Using target="_blank" rel="noopener"—or the full target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"—helps avoid opening a link in a new tab that can manipulate the parent frame or read sensitive information such as login details.
Example Implementation
Let’s look at a more detailed example showing how to open the link while avoiding security pitfalls. Suppose you want to link your users to another site in a newly opened tab:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Open a Link Example</title>
</head>
<body>
<a
href="https://example.com"
target="_blank"
rel="noopener noreferrer"
>
Visit External Website
</a>
</body>
</html>
In this html snippet:
- The anchor tag has an
hrefthat points to the linked url. - The
target="_blank"will open the link in a new tab or window. - The
relattribute is set tonoopener noreferrer, which prevents the newly opened tab from accessing the original page.
This approach is widely used to automatically open external links in a new window, providing a safe and seamless experience for your users.
Handling Browser Behavior and Default Settings
Some browser environments or browser’s settings may override your request to open a link in a new tab. Certain modern browsers let users force a link open in the same window or open a link in new tab by right-clicking. While you cannot always guarantee the full body control of how a link behaves, using the correct target attribute is generally the best you can do.
When Not to Use target="_blank"
Though opening a new tab can be convenient, it’s not always ideal. If you want to maintain a single navigation flow (e.g., when the linked document is part of the same site), consider letting the hyperlink open in the same tab to keep a cohesive user experience. Overusing target="_blank" can clutter a browser with multiple tabs, making it tricky for users to track their progress across your page.
Summary
Learning how to open the link in a new window or new tab is an essential technique for creating user-friendly html pages. By properly using the target attribute, inserting the correct rel attribute, and understanding potential vulnerabilities, you can make your anchor tags behave exactly as needed. Remember that your goal is to provide a smooth experience without compromising security.
Next Steps / Recommended Resources
- Review the CoreUI Tutorials at https://coreui.io/blog/ for more tips on structuring your html layout and tag usage.
- Explore your browser’s settings to see how it handles open link actions by default.
- Experiment with dynamically changing the
target="_blank"using JavaScript if you want to create or insert conditions under which links open in a new tab. - Check out authoritative tutorials on how to open the linked document for advanced scenarios involving frames, pop-ups, or embedded document viewers.
By following these steps and best practices, you can master html open in new tab strategies and keep your applications safe, user-friendly, and reliable.
