Opening a link to a new window?

I have heard that one should not force internet links to open in a new tab (or a new window): regardless of wherever the link goes, it should show in the same tab in the same window!

Users know how to use a browser!

The argument for this lies in the user knowing that they have the ability to choose whether the link opens in a new tab or not: one can simply right-click on the link for that choice!

So, by default, the links on your websites should appear in the same tab in the same window, to avoid giving your user excessive browser tabs!

Should external links open in a new tab?

Some say no - the user knows!

However:

• from the perspective of the user, I don't want to have to make that extra step to right-click
• from the perspective of the website owner, I want my users to stay on my website
  • having the link go to an external site on the same tab might make the users "forget how they got there" if they still want to visit my site
  • at some point, I ensured (programmatically in my website code) that all links to external sites would open in a new tab, just because!

Some may hate it but whatever...

Internal links should always open in the same tab

Of course! Nobody wants to close so many tabs, so all links to other pages within a site, should always open in the same tab in the same window!