Beware of Opening Links in a New Window

Neil Turner is a usability consultant with Webcredible and has written this article on Why not Open Links in a New Window?

Here are the top 5 reasons why you should beware of opening links in a new window:

1. Unless you warn them, Web users are likely to expect the new page to load in the current window. Unexpected surprises can be fun, but not when you're browsing the Web.

2. The act of opening a new browser window resets the back button in that window. The back button is the second most used navigation function (after hyperlinks, source: useit.com), so resetting it is a big no-no.

3. To open a new browser window can disorient very novice Web users and the visually impaired. They might not realise that a new window has opened and might struggle to switch between windows.

4. Opening a new browser window disrespects the desires of your users. If they want a new window, they'll ask for one. Don't force a new window upon users unless there's a very good reason to do so.

5. New browser windows can make an already cluttered taskbar even more difficult to use. We've all spent ages hunting through the taskbar in search of the window we want. Don't make this process even harder by increasing the number of windows the user has open.

But Using New Windows Keeps Users on my Site!

Not on its own, it doesn't! Web users will stay on a site because it has the information they're looking for, or because it helps them achieve their goals -- not because the browser window is still open.

If users want to return to a Website, they'll use the back button. If a new window is used, the back button in this window is reset, so users won't be able to do return to your site using this common method (cue frustrated users).
What Should I do?

The short answer is: think long and hard before you open any link in a new window. If you still think that using a new window is a good idea then you really have two options:

1. Warn the user that the link will open in a new window

If you warn the user that the link opens in a new window, it won't come as a nasty surprise. There are a number of ways you can do warn users:

2. Provide an icon that opens the link in a new browser window


When can I Open Links in a New Window?

Believe if or not, there are instances when using a new window is a good idea, such as when:

*The link is for a document, such as a PDF or Word file. Opening a new window will allow the image or document to download in the background. It also prevents users from accidentally closing the browser window when they close the document.

*The link is for a large image. In this case, a new window allows the Web user to keep a browser window open while the image is being downloaded.

*The link is for a printable version of an article or Web page. Here, a new window allows users to keep the current window open while they print the article or page in the background.

For each of these instances, use text and an icon to indicate that a new browser window will open.

Conclusion

Think very long and very hard before you open links in a new window. Most of the time, opening links in the current window is by far the best solution. If you do need to open links in a new window, at least warn users beforehand -- unless, of course, you want your site visitors to get a rather unwelcome surprise!

Think very long and very hard before you open links in a new window. Most of the time, opening links in the current window is by far the best solution. If you do need to open links in a new window, at least warn users beforehand -- unless, of course, you want your site visitors to get a rather unwelcome surprise!

Thanks to Neil Turner for this informative article.