Forum Discussion
Should links open in a new window?
Hey folks,
Just wanted to throw a usability question out to the masses since it has become a subject of debate between a couple of us.
When you click on link on a webpage, do you prefer that it:
A) Opens in a new tab
B) Opens in a new window
c) Opens in the existing tab
Why?
Personally, I prefer that links open in a new tab, because I don't want to lose the original page.
Looking forward to hearing your opinions!
Allison
- NicolaAppelCommunity Member
I vote for the new tab, too. Just my personal preference. :)
I also vote for new tab based on personal preference.
I think it's particularly important when linking to an outside website. Then you're directing traffic away from your site and they might a) forget they were there in the first place or b) be unable to find their way back to where they were on your site. Clearly we hope that users love the site so much that neither of those things happen, but why take the chance!
- JackieVanNiceSuper Hero
New tab!!
New Tab? Coke classic!! Wait? Soda or browsers?
- TimSladeSuper Hero
New tab always!
- CaryGlenn1Super Hero
New Tab, but I do like the original Tab also.
- Ralf-BaumCommunity Member
New Tab is the best solution. New Window is on second place, same tab is critically.
Rule No1: If users leave the course they have left the course. :-) That sounds highly logically, doesn't it?
But it's the truth. When learners navigate to another page the risk is quite high that they don't use the Back-Button. As long as a tab is opened they can return. When they have to navigate back - they won't return.
"New window" could help the users to stay away from the course quite a long time. The structure of the web helps them to vanish. They see a link, a new button, another page - another tab and nobody thinks about the learning window anymore. :-)
At the end of the day they see that a LMS window is still open. Perhaps they finish the course but the risk is high that they leave the office. Why? When do you close all your windows? When you are going to leave. What data will be submitted to the LMS Learning Instructor?
User xy has visited 16 slides - duration 5 hours
User Xy is really watching each slide very carefully. *smile*
- NancyWoinoskiSuper Hero
I agree with everyone else that new tab is the best option but I would also like to see some flexibility here for situations in which a new tab might not be the best solution. So give us the option to set which way we want it to work.
- ChrisPerez-f9f6Community Member
My method of web development has always been to open a link in a new tab if the link:
- Is unrelated to the original page it came from (third party content)
- Disrupts what the user is doing on the original page (if there is still content on the original page the user needs to access)
Otherwise, if the link is the ultimate destination for the user and there is no need to access the content from the launch page, then it should open in the existing tab/window.
- jeffCommunity Member
+1 for the new tab.
- Jacob-SelinCommunity Member
+1 for new tab.
New window is the second best solution even if i dont like itSame tab is ONLY ok if the course is finished and you on the last slide provides a link where you wanna give additional (external) information. (read this site if you are interested)
- ChrisCommunity Member
Definitely New tab