Tech Tip: Open a Link in a New Tab

Written on March 6, 2010 by Sandy in Tech Tips

This is one of my favorite snippets of HTML code used to open a link in a new tab.

Having a link on your website or blog open in a new tab is very important, especially if you are linking to another website. You don’t want to drive people away from your own site. You don’t want them to forget to come back.

By using this snippet of HTML code to open a link in a new tab, people can jump over to the new tab, see what you want to share with them and your site is still open for them to return to.

Try the Joyfully Jobless Jamboree links below to see how it works. Beneath each link I have shown you what the HTML code looks like to open a link within the same tab (before) and what the HTML code looks like to open a link in a new tab (after).

Before – HTML code for a link that will open within an existing tab:
Joyfully Jobless Jamboree

html code open in an existing tab

After – HTML code for a link that will open in a new tab:
Joyfully Jobless Jamboree

html code open in a new tab

This is the actual snippet of HTML code to open a link in a new tab: target=”_blank”

Chris

February 23, 2012 | 10:29 pm

Thanks for the easy tip! It’s nice to know how WordPress does things. Sometimes there’s not a widget to do it for you!

BRee

January 29, 2012 | 7:54 pm

it should be target=”new”

Sandy

January 19, 2012 | 2:10 pm

The code does work for tab browsing with Google Chrome and Mozilla’s Firefox

George

January 19, 2012 | 9:29 am

This would be an excellent tip if it actually worked. Target_blank opens a new explorer window not a new tab.

Jennifer in Internet Marketing

August 9, 2010 | 11:40 am

Thanks, Sandy. I’ve been wondering how to keep readers on my site when I put on links.

One extra “goodie” I’d really like to work out would be to open the link in the new tab BUT stay on my site. they can go look later after opening more links. That’s the idea anyway!

Do you have any idea how that could be done?

Thanks
Jennifer

Fly

August 3, 2010 | 1:46 am

HI!

This no new tab!! This new WINDOW!!

Blogging Tips | The Dreaming Cafe

March 17, 2010 | 5:07 am

[...] Don’t drive people away from your site, have your links open in a new tab. [...]

Jeanne

March 6, 2010 | 6:40 pm

Thanks, Sandy! Big time! I knew I was doing it wrong. I knew it was an easy fix, but I didn’t know what it was. Now I do. Doing some house keeping and going back through posts to make the adjustments. So appreciate )
Jeanne