Ask YC: How do you deal with external urls?

#1

Post by nurall » Wed, May 07, 2008, 7:02 AM UTC

Yesterday our team had a lengthy discussion/debate on whether to let users navigate to new pages within an existing tab/window OR open new tabs/windows for external urls. We weren't able to come to a consensus. Hence this question!

The Social News feature we are building for the niche market contains external urls. And we also have other features in the pipeline, that may or may not have external urls. Hence the dilemma!

What do you guys think about this classic web usability problem?

Re: Ask YC: How do you deal with external urls?

#2

Post by alex_c » Wed, May 07, 2008, 7:10 AM UTC

In general, the safe choice is to open a link in the same window. I can use the middle mouse button to open the link in a new tab if I want, or I can just click on it, read the contents, and press Back. If you make the link always open in a new tab/window, my options are more limited, and I have to close the tab/window when I'm done, then hunt through my tabs to find your site again and continue reading.

I say "in general", because there might be specific use cases where a new tab/window makes more sense. Maybe you expect the user to want to keep both windows on the screen, or maybe you expect the user to spend a lot of time or drill down deep on the external page. It's hard to say without knowing more, but for a regular social news site, my personal preference is for same window.

Re: Ask YC: How do you deal with external urls?

#3

Post by JeffL » Wed, May 07, 2008, 7:12 AM UTC

I hate it when links force a new browser window or a new tab. Users are smart enough to hold down shift or control when they click to get a new window or tab, aren't they? Why not have an option people can choose to have external links open in a different window or tab?

Re: Ask YC: How do you deal with external urls?

#4

Post by nurall » Wed, May 07, 2008, 7:15 AM UTC

alex_c wrote: post #2

In general, the safe choice is to open a link in the same window. I can use the middle mouse button to open the link in a new tab if I want, or I can just click on it, read the contents, and press Back. If you make the link always open in a new tab/window, my options are more limited, and I have to close the tab/window when I'm done, then hunt through my tabs to find your site again and continue reading. I say "in ge…

Social News is one of the features as I mentioned and for some users it might qualify as just a Social News site based on the way they adopt it but for others the Social News feature might be one of the features they will end up using. Our problem is how do we identify the least common denominator without having to do extensive A/B testing?

Re: Ask YC: How do you deal with external urls?

#5

Post by davidu » Wed, May 07, 2008, 7:24 AM UTC

Here's how we do it.

http://domain.opendns.com/thejack.humboldt.edu

With the icon... and some text.

Re: Ask YC: How do you deal with external urls?

#6

Post by missenlinx » Wed, May 07, 2008, 7:26 AM UTC

Never open windows in a new window. Users know how to click the back button if they want to come back to your site they will. I also believe its not part of WC3 validation.

Re: Ask YC: How do you deal with external urls?

#7

Post by walesmd » Wed, May 07, 2008, 7:33 AM UTC

Never open a new window automatically - let the user middle-click.

Re: Ask YC: How do you deal with external urls?

#8

Post by rms » Wed, May 07, 2008, 7:37 AM UTC

I'd say only do it if you are targeting an unsophisticated audience. Computer savvy users can handle their windows themselves, but a lot of people can't.

Re: Ask YC: How do you deal with external urls?

#9

Post by axod » Wed, May 07, 2008, 8:25 AM UTC

walesmd wrote: post #7

Never open a new window automatically - let the user middle-click.

Several exceptions to this.

For example, links received in email, if you view the email via a webmail client gmail for instance, and click on the link, it will open in a new window.

I think it depends on the % of users that will want to go back to your app after looking at the link. And with ajax type apps, the back button just doesn't cut it.

Re: Ask YC: How do you deal with external urls?

#10

Post by gojomo » Wed, May 07, 2008, 8:27 AM UTC

A meta-suggestion: avoid lengthy discussions about such issues. Pick one option quickly, then run experiments to test whether the alternative improves your relevant metrics. Some issues are too small to invest time in trying to find 'consensus' without hard data.

On the issue directly: the web default is to open links in the same window. Opening new windows is in Jakob Nielsen's list of the top ten very worst web design mistakes†. (It's #9 as of his 2007 update.) So skip the discussion, go with that, and later run some tests comparing stay-in-page with open-new-window on whatever metric is important to you. (Page views? Non-annoyed users? Return visits? etc.)

† http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9605.html