When (if ever) should links be opened in a new window?

Question

I have seen a lot of discussion on this topic but it all seems to be opinion based without any research backing up the assumptions.

It seems that there are times that it is particularly relevant to open links in new windows (providing help or interrupting processes) but what about the more ambiguous actions (i.e. links to external sites)?

Does anyone know of any (preferably recent) research on the affect links opening new windows has on users?

Answer 1

I'm a proponent of it's ok to open outgoing links in a new window, but I can't find any arguments/data one way or the other within the last 4 years that doesn't reference 4 year old dogma. In the absence of recent analysis I rely on "what do the experts do" and this is what I've found:

sensible.com (Steve Krug) - generally doesn't open outgoing links in new window but link to amazon.com to buy books does open in a new window/tab.

cooper.com (Alan Cooper) - does open outgoing links in new tab/window.

www.nngroup.com - does not open links in new window.

google.com - does not open links in new window.

news.google.com, twitter.com, most emails, most forums - does open outgoing links in new window/tab.

wikipedia.org, stackexchange.com - does not open outgoing links in new window.

edit: found a recent analysis (courtesy of 3nafish): http://uxmovement.com/navigation/why-external-links-should-open-in-new-tabs/ and I agree completely.

Answer 2

On today's web, never.

Once, opening a link with href = blank was a legitimate way to present a modal window for a tangential task, keeping the host page in view so the user could easily return to their original workflow once they were done. Granted, the fact it broke the back button probably negated the benefits, but there was still a case for it nevertheless.

Fast forward to 2013 and things have changed: modern desktop user agents open these links in new tabs, and users have started using mobile browsers that hide away tab management for the sake of screen estate. Because the whole page changes, desktop users are prone to miss tab changes due to change blindness, and because the tabs are tucked away on mobile, mobile users find it awkward to shift tabs even when they know they need to.

So don't do it in future. If you need a modal panel, try to use a lightbox solution instead.

Answer 3

For me, the only legitimate reason to open a new window if there's a need to have two windows open at once.

but what about the more ambiguous actions (i.e. links to external sites)?

I haven't heard any good arguments for that.

So barring a good argument to change default web behavior, I tend to encourage people to not mess with the default web behavior.

Answer 4

It's debatable. I think it's courteous to open a new tab for an external link, but it doesn't make sense on mobile.