Same Site, Same Window (or Tab)

Make browsing easier.

Opinion page by Duane Alan Hahn.

All normal pages within your web site should open in the same browser window. I've been to some web sites that open a new window for every onsite link. That makes a web site a pain to use.

New or Not?

Some experts say that all links to other web sites should open in a new window since those web sites are not part of your own site. I used to agree because sometimes you don't want to use the back button if you fill out any kind of form at another web site. The original site could get buried under dozens of pages and you'd lose track of it, although you really wanted to go back there. But now that browsers are improving so that it's easier to find a site that was 50 links back, I think I can go back to having all links open in the same window.

If you have room, it's nice to give your visitors a choice of opening external links in the same window or in a new window, but as more people learn to hold down the Ctrl key or Shift key, having two choices will no longer be necessary. Just remember that all normal onsite links should open in the same window.