External links: In or Out

What You Will Learn in External links: In or Out?

• Does opening links in new window benefit SEO?
• Why is it a bad practice to open external links in a new window?
• When to Open Links in a New Tab?
• How to let someone know when a link opens a new window?
  • Add the hint in the link text
    • Working Example
    • Code for Hint in the Link Text
  • Using SR-only class
    • Working Example
    • Code for SR-Only Class
  • Adding a Visual Cue
    • Working Example
    • Code for Visual Cue
  • Title attribute with an icon
    • Working Example
    • Code for Title Attribute with Icon
  • Using aria-label
    • Bad Example
    • Working Example (Good)
    • Code for Aria-Label Attribute with Visual Cue
  • Using aria-describedby
    • Working Example
    • Code for Aria-Describedby Attribute with Visual Cue
• Conclusion

Large part of today’s web is currently built on modern content management systems that enable developers, designers, and content authors to decide the functionality of the components at global and at the page level. All the content creation is done in WYSWYG editors.  It is the designers and the content author’s responsibility to ensure which links should open in new window if it is necessary for the functionality or to provide a better user experience.

Opening external links in new window is not a good usability and accessibility practice, [...]