When do I need to open a link in a new window?

Question

When developing a web application / website, is there an accepted practice when to open a link in a new window?

Currently, if the linked site is outside the domain (say, Google.com), I always launch it in a new window. If the linked page is within the same domain, I open it in the current active window.

I read somewhere that open links in a new window are clearly not approved.

Thanks!

Answer 1

My opinion: the best practice is not to open links in a new window. Users can decide for themselves when they want to do this.

Answer 2

The only reason I can think about this is that there is a data entry component on your site, and these links can be clicked so that the user can get the help material while filling out the form (i.e. you don’t want to, so that they need to leave the page in order to read some notes, since they will lose all the data that they entered to this point).

Answer 3

There is no specific “accepted practice” other than the one you mentioned.

Opening new windows is disapproving because it is a poor use, most users expect the link to open in the same window or if they are advanced enough, you know how to open in the new windows / tabs themselves.

By opening a new window yourself, you select the choice and clutter up the desktop.

Answer 4

It violates HTML standards and accessibility rules (the latter is a criminal offense in any jurisdiction!) In order to force a new window to open. Users can and want to make this choice themselves.