_new or _blank target tag?

[limbo]

Mange Tout!

I was wondering if one of either the target="_blank" or target="_new" attributes were preferred by, or more of less depreciated by, some browsers versions?

It's pedantic I know but these things have started to niggle me - Is this normal behaviour for a webmaster?

Ta

Limbo

[Dreamquick]

"_blank" is a special target in that it will always open a new window while "_new" works as a standard window target in that if that handle already exists the page will be loaded into that window rather than creating a new one (one of my pet peeves).

(Was a little uncertain but a quick google for _new _blank does appear to back me up on this.)

To quote the first result;

I would recommend against ever using "_new" as a target for a URL. It makes very little sense as an identifier, and is confusing. If you want a new window whenever the link is clicked, use "_blank"; if you want a single window to be created, give it a meaningful label by which to reference it.

Personally I'm starting to side with the view that opening a new window unless the user asks for it gets in the way of intuitive navigation.

- Tony

[traffik daddy]

I like to use target="_blank" if it is a link to another site, this way you still have your site open in the background on your viewers browser. If you were to use it on all of your pages then your viewer will be opening a lot of windows depending on the size of your site. Its better to keep navigation simple rather than complex.

It could be useful too if you have a lot of information and you want to split one page into two pages or more. You could have a link on your page such as "Click here for more info..." and have it opening a new window.

I don't think this code is incompatible with most browsers but its a huge place is the internet, maybe one or two smaller ones :)

Regards (going off the subject a little at first)
Terry

[Visit Thailand]

I go with _blank but all actual .html pages should open in the same window only on certain pages such as with pics etc do I _blank as that allows readers to continue reading while an image loads.

[limbo]

Personally I'm starting to side with the view that opening a new window unless the user asks for it gets in the way of intuitive navigation.

A good point that i would like to be able to stick to rigidly but on this particular site it is a necessary evil.

I had wondered if the _new and _blank actually had a measureable difference in terms of their action and it seems it does so I am off to do a bit of testing :)

Ta

Limbo