What is the target='_blank' attribute in HTML and when to use it?
Jul 12, 2025 am 01:26 AMUse target="_blank" should be used when you want the user to stay on the current page, such as jumping to external websites, opening non-web page content, or avoiding interruption of the process; precautions include adding rel="noopener" to prevent security vulnerabilities and avoid abuse affecting navigation and accessibility; misuse scenarios include internal links to open new pages, lack of security attributes, and multi-label explosions; alternatives can be pop-ups, dynamically loaded or explicitly prompted to users.
target="_blank"
is an attribute of the <a></a>
tag in HTML, which is used to make the link open in a new tab. It is simple, but it plays an important role in web design and user experience.

When should you use target="_blank"
?
It is mainly used when you want the user to click on the link and still stay on the current page. for example:

- When guiding users to access external websites (such as jumping to partners, reference materials)
- When opening PDF or other non-web page content
- Avoid interrupting the user's current operation process
This will improve the user experience and prevent users from leaving your carefully designed page.
Notes on using target="_blank"
Although convenient, adding target="_blank"
directly is not always the best practice. There are several details to note:

-
Security issues : If the link is external, it is best to add
rel="noopener"
to prevent new pages from controlling the original page throughwindow.opener
and avoid potential security vulnerabilities.Example writing:
<a href="https://example.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">External link</a>
Don't abuse : Not all links are suitable for newly opened tabs. Internal jumps or navigation should be kept in the current page, otherwise it will disrupt the user's browsing rhythm.
Impact accessibility : Screen reader users may not be aware that the link will open in a new window. It is recommended to add prompt text appropriately, such as "(will open in a new window)".
Common misuse scenarios
Sometimes developers will use target="_blank"
at will for "convenience", which will lead to negative effects. Here are some typical errors:
- Used on in-site links, causing users to open multiple pages that should be browsed continuously
- No
rel="noopener"
is added, leaving a safety hazard - Multiple links have newly opened tabs, causing the browser tag to explode
These problems may seem small, but if the website has a large number of users, it will affect the overall experience and even security.
Alternatives and suggestions
If you don't want the user to leave the current page, but are not sure whether to force a new tab, consider these alternatives:
- Provide buttons or pop-ups to load content (such as modal boxes)
- Use JavaScript to dynamically load resources to reduce page switching
- For document-like links, you can specify "click to download" or "will open in a new window" to allow users to have expectations
In the end, we have to judge based on the specific scenario, rather than adding target="_blank"
to all external links in general.
Basically, that's not complicated to use, but it's easy to ignore details.
The above is the detailed content of What is the target='_blank' attribute in HTML and when to use it?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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