User experience: Should links open a new window?

This article from https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/07/should-links-open-in-new-windows/

The author does not have permission to do so, if infringement is involved. Please contact me directly, I will withdraw the article. I was so lazy that I copied it and I didn't read it.

No, they shouldn ' t. At first glance, the decision-open links in new windows or not depends on the given site and the preferences of its Vis Itors. Visitors to the sites with heavy linking is more willing to has links opened in new Windows then open dozens of links in New windows manually. Visitors of Less-heavy-linkage-sites is more likely to open some particular link in new window to remain on the site and Continue to browse through it afterward. However, this is not true.

Users also don ' t like to deal with dozens of opened tabs and some visitors tend to become quickly angry with the disabled Back button. Furthermore, some visitors may isn't even realize that a new window is opened and hit the Back-button mercilessly-without Any result. That's not the user-friendly, and that's not a good user experience we, the Web designers, strive for.

Place USERS in CONTROL LINK

From the usability point of view the decision to enforce opening links in new Windows violates one of the fundamental prin Ciples of the user interface design:users should always being in control of the interface they is interacting with.

Leading user interface and usability researchers such as

• Ben Shneiderman (8 Golden Rules of Interface Design),
• Theo Mandel (User Interface Design principles)
• Bruce Tognazzini (firstprinciples of Interaction Design)

Claim a user-friendly and effective user interface places users in control of the application they is using.

Users need to is able to rely on consistency of the user interface and know that they won ' t be distracted or disrupted dur ing the interaction. Users must know, understand and anticipate what's going on and what'll happen once user interface elements are used. Any deviations from this convention the result in a more design-oriented and less user-oriented design.

As Shneiderman claims, experienced users strongly desire the sense that they is in charge of the system and that the Syst EM responds to their actions. As designers, it is our duty to design the system-to-make users the initiators of actions rather than the responders.

Designers is tempted to enforce users to actually use the interface or browse through the site they has created. Although the rationale behind stems from some clear commercial objectives and therefore often preferred by project manager s, it is the designer's duty to make clear to managers.

In fact, developers often tend to forget a simple, almost elementary fact:if users want to close the application or leave A site, they will-doesn ' t matter which obstacles is placed on their path to the Exit-button. The more obstacles there is the more negative the user experience would be.

As designers, it is the decision to provide users with a clear, unambiguous choice RS which choice they make.

Why enforcing OPENING LINKS on NEW WINDOWS is wrong LINK

Since users need to being placed in control of the interface they was interacting with, it's wrong to make decisions for the M as designer ' s decisions don ' t necessarily match users ' decisions. The main problem with enforcing links to open in new Windows is, this decision overrules user's decision to control th E view in their browser.

Since Large websites (Google, Amazon, AOL, Yahoo & Co.) Open links in the same window (unless it is explicitly stated That links is opened in new windows), users tend to assume that the link on an unknown page would be opened in the same WI Ndow. So users expect the link to being opened in the same window.

Let us now consider the following-situations where a user doesn ' t know upfront if the site opens links in new windows Or the same window:

1. User wants to open link in a new window, and the site opens links in the same window,
2. User wants to open link in the same window, and the site opens links in new Windows.

The first situation users can choose to open a link in the new window using Context-menu or shortcuts described in the Next sections of this article. In this situation, users is the initiators of actions as they decide how the linked page should is displayed. Here site ' s behavior meets user's expectations resulting in a good user experience.

In the second situation users would simply click on the link and suddenly find out which the link is opened in a new window . In this situation users be the responders of actions as they need to react in the the "how" the linked page is displayed- For instance close the Windows is opened automatically. Furthermore, here site ' s behavior doesn ' t meet user's expectations resulting in a bad user experience.

Users find it annoying when the site does something without asking them to doing so. If users want to open new windows let them does and don ' t indulge their intelligence by making the decision for them othe Rwise. Don ' t force a new window upon users unless there's a excellent reason to doing so.

Every RULE have an EXCEPTION LINK

Of course, there is exceptions:in some situations it's right-to-open links in new windows and wrong to open links in th e same Windows. Jakob Nielsen suggests to use new windows in case the linked document was not a. Html-document. In the case, he recommends using a pop-up windows without Browser Control toolbar. In such case it's reasonable to let the user know upfront how the links would be opened.

A Small warning icon usually suffices. However, you need to make sure that the link is unlikely to be misunderstood. After all, it's a common practice to use icons to inform the visitors that links leads to external websites. An additional or similar icon may produce irritation. Small usability tests may is helpful and necessary in this situation.

Telepolis lets its visitors know, a link leads to the external page. However, the icon used May is misunderstood as it can also symbolize opening links in new Windows.

It is appropriate to enforce opening links in a new window in case

• The link provides assistance or help. If you is on a shopping cart page, and the users click on a "Help" link. In this case, the users don ' t want to navigate away from the cart page, so a new window is acceptable. In such cases dynamic tooltips is usually better than pop-ups that is again better than opening new windows.
• The link may interrupt an ongoing process. For instance, if users is filling a web-form and the form provides the link to terms of service or privacy policy below t He form it is reasonable to enforce this link to open in a new window to not interrupt the ongoing process. This is important in sign-up forms and crucial in checkout-forms. Otherwise, users may lose the information they ' ve already typed in and close the browser windows in response.
• The link leads to a non-html-document. e.g. pdf-file,. xls-file,. mp3 And so on. Warn users in advance, a new window would appear. When using pc-native file formats such as PDF or spreadsheets, the users feel like they ' re interacting with a PC application. Because users is no longer browsing a website, they shouldn ' t be given a browser UI. Best of all, prevent the browser from opening the document in the first place. Jakob Nielsen explains how it can is done.
• The link leads to a large image which takes time to load. Opening This image in a new window allows user-to-focus on your content and the image is being loaded in the background.

Forgive them, for they DON ' T KNOW what the They do LINK

Unfortunately, we weren ' t able to find any recent the findings that would provide us with a better understanding of H OW users open links if they want to open them in new tabs or Windows. However, it's likely to assume the most users don ' t know shortcuts and prefer more intuitive straight solutions. More experienced users is more likely to the use of shortcuts that is described below as well.

There is three reasonable ways for opening links in new Windows. Most users use the first Option-not because it's the most efficient one, but because it's the most obvious one. These options is implemented in all modern browsers; Older browsers may has problems with the second and third options, though.

1. Visitors use the context-menu:users Click with the right mouse on the link and select the option "Open Lin K in a new Tab/window ". If the link is opened with a new tab, the active window remains the same as it was before the click. If the link is opened in a new window, new window appears, and the new window becomes the active window.
2. Visitors Use The ctrl+click-shortcut:users Press the Ctrl+key and click with the "left" mouse button on the link. The link is automatically opened in a new tab. The active window remains the same as it was before the click. This shortcut can vary depending on the operating system and the browser implementation.
3. visitors use the middle-click:users point the mouse pointer to the link and press the Middle-click of the mouse. The link is automatically opened in a new tab. The active window remains the same as it was before the click.

The first option is definitely the most popular one of the most ineffective yet. IT requires more clicks and more concentration, therefore more time and more cognitive load on the user. The third one is the quickest one as users don ' t need to permanently switch between the Context-menu and the page itself.

Most users seem the Context-menu to open links in new tabs or Windows. Image source.

The main irritation from the "side Comes" from the "the fact that" most users know only the first option. Consequently, if they want to open links on new windows they need to use the Context-menu, with multiple clicks, Switching the view back and forth again and again. That ' s stressful and unpleasant. Still, opening links in the same window (by default) is the lesser of the evils. And if users don ' t know how to does it quickly, tell them Explicitly-they would be grateful for your help.

But I CAN force VISITORS to stay on MY SITE, right? LINK

No. Even if you enforce the external links to open in new Windows users would find their the around to open the link on the SAM E page if they want to:

1. Users can copy the link, paste it in the Address bar and hits the return button; The link is being opened in the same window.
2. Users can drag the link to the address bar; The link is being opened in the same window.

Unfortunately, not every a browser allows users to do. However, modern browsers has this functionality implemented since years. If the users don ' t want a link to open in a new window, they ' ll-try to find the ' from ' to circumvent designer ' s decision.

Firefox enables its users to decide how the links designer have chosen to open in new windows should is opened.

Therefore, from the designer's perspective, it's better to provide users with a clear and clean-to-do so respecting t Heir interests and not neglecting their time. If you want your visitors to come back, assist them, guide them, help them, but never impose on their patience and willing Ness to browse on your site.

OPTIMAL Solution LINK

In we opinion the most effective and user-friendly solution are to allow users to select how the links should be opened. However, they don ' t has to does that via their browser. Designers can provide users with a small check-box this "decides" how the links should be opened. You need to make sure this checkbox is the visible and users understand what it's good for.

This can is done via JavaScript. Once The box is checked all links would be opened in a new Tab/window. Just Check the box yourself and try it out:

Source code for the Check-box:

<form> <input type= "checkbox" onclick= "Linkopener (this.checked)" id= "Linksnewwin" > Open external links in a New tab? </form>

Source code for the JavaScript (your ' ll need to replace domain.comwith your web-site ' s URL; thus the browser would Be able to distinguish between internal and external links):

<script language= "javascript" >  function Linkopener (a) {var b = a? "_blank": "_self"; var c = document.links;  for (var i=0; i < c.length; i++) {if (C[i].href.search ("domain.com") = =-1) c[i].target = b;}  }  </script>

This JavaScript doesn ' t use cookie so if the users browse from one side to another their preference won ' t is stored. If you'd like the checkbox to work throughout your site you'll have the consider using the cookie to store users ' preferences.

BOTTOM Line LINK

It is important this users are placed in control of the user interface they is using. Since users expect the link to being opened in the same window, set your links to open in the same window. Don ' t force a new window upon users unless there's a very good reason to doing so. For the latter purpose, consider opening links on new Windows if the link provides assistance or help, if it may interrupt An ongoing process or it leads to a non-html-document.

Allow users to select how the links should is opened on a given web-site. Opening links in the same windows the lesser of the evils. And if users don ' t know how to does it quickly, tell them Explicitly-they would be grateful for your help.

User experience: Should links open a new window?