javascript-tutorial / javascript-tutorial/en.javascript.info

Open External Links in a New Tab

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#3,938 3 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub

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Dominant language
HTML
Stars
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Forks
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Description

Currently, when users click on external links within the application, they open in the same browser tab. This causes users to navigate away from the application entirely, which is interrupting workflow and negatively impact user experience.

Expected Behavior
External links should open in a new browser tab (e.g., using target="_blank" with appropriate security attributes like rel="noopener noreferrer"). This allows users to:

  • Keep the application open in the original tab.
  • Easily return to their previous context.
  • Avoid losing unsaved progress or navigation state.

Current Behavior
All links (including external links) open in the same tab, replacing the current application view.

Proposed Solution
Update external anchor elements to open in a new tab by default.

Additional Context
Opening external links in a new tab is a common UX pattern in web applications, especially when linking to documentation or external references.

Contributor guide

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First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by locating the external anchor elements in the application and compare them with links that stay within the site. Verify in a browser that external links open in a separate tab while internal links retain their existing behavior, and confirm that the new-tab links include the requested security attributes.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
html
Domain
frontend, web-dev
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
55/100

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