Links: Should or Shouldn't You
Open a New Window?

What happens when you click on a link on a web site? You are taken to another page on the web, right? Now here's a question for you. Should that new page be opened in a new browser window or in the existing window? This is a issue that has to be looked at because there are times when one approach is better than the other.

As a web design company, more often than not we do *not* open new browser windows when creating links. The reason for this is that there is no reason to have additional windows open up. A common reason you WOULD want to have a link open in a new browser window is when the information you are linking to is outside of your own site. For example, a web site offering resources for caring for elderly parents may have a page listing state by state elder care resources. Each of the links on such a page should open a new browser window since users may want to look at your list again as they evaluate the sites they open. But you would not want to have new window open for a link that goes back to your home page. Some sites do this to the annoyance of their audience. It is no fun to finish looking through a web site for information only to find that five browser windows are open on your computer.

Make sure when you create each link on your web site to consider whether or not you need to open a new browser window. In some cases it will be very helpful to do so. If you keep your site goal-oriented and easy to navigate, you will know which way to handle the links you create.

- Kaufman Web Design™