@grigs so, I always assumed that this came from having heavyweight dynamic Web sites. If a link in the site opens an external URL in the same tab, then hitting the Back button incurs some, maybe all, of the first-page-load costs. Opening in a separate tab leave the big site open. "Switch Tab" becomes a very fast Back button.
@grigs I had another thought about this - I feel like the SPA-ification of the web has often broken links a bit. Middle-click and control/command-click has stopped working to easily open links in new tabs and windows, so now what's hard-coded into these links has become more of a concern?
@sarajw maybe? But I’ve been arguing against this practice since at least 2005. Probably earlier. It predates SPAs.
As far as I can tell, for nearly 20 decades, site owners have taken it as an article of faith that if they open links in new tabs or windows, that visitors will be more likely to spend more time on their site despite the fact no one seems to have tested this assumption.
So what I prefer doesn’t matter. We should do what is best for users. And with few exceptions based on context (e.g., media playing in current window), links should open in same window.
But there are many people who have convinced themselves that the business value of opening links…
@sarajw in new tabs or windows outweighs the well-documented accessibility and usability issues.
But if the next time this comes up, I can point them to an article that says, “There is no evidence that opening links in a new tab provides business value,” maybe I can undercut this argument. Or maybe I can force them to actually measure it to figure out if it add value or not instead of reflexively imposing UX and accessibility issues on their users.
@sarajw But proving a negative (no evidence) is impossible so I’m trying to cast a wide net to see if anyone has data to share before I write my “No evidence” post.
Anyways, that’s my plan. Either find out why people keep insisting this is so important for their sites or write an article everyone can use when engaging in these debates.
@grigs totally agree with you by the way - I went around removing all the target="_blank" from the links on my homepage a while ago (I hope I got them all) as I find the accessibility arguments convincing enough.
That's the problem with this stuff too though isn't it, if you do a study of average people you'll get a split answer probably - like you say it doesn't really matter what my preference is, if it causes problems for those using assistive tech.
@grigs guh I've missed the point again sorry - yes it's of total sense to do an A B test and find out what makes more business sense. Would just suck to find out it's true, that forced new tabs/windows do make business sense after all.
@sarajw yeah, that’s the risk I suppose. But right now, the decision makers act like the data is already on that side and as far as I can tell, there is no data.
It’s like a poker player has been successfully bluffing for 20 deca…er…years.
It’s about time for someone to call their bluff and see what cards they’re holding.
Incidentally now I'm remembering the whole target attribute being a thing in the late 90s but that's because I was a teenager building personal websites with framesets and later iframes 😅 but that's a little different...
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