I don't really agree with this one. From my perspective as a reader, I prefer when links have target="_blank" set, because it means if I forget to (or couldn't

I don't really agree with this one. From my perspective as a reader, I prefer when links have target="_blank" set, because it means if I forget to (or couldn't be arsed to) ctrl+click or right-click -> open link in new tab, I still don't lose my place on the current page, and can go poke around at the linked content at my leisure. Obviously @mindcrime find's it useful ;-) However whenever I have done user testing of links opening in new windows it has never helped. At best there's no difference. Very commonly it confuses and does the opposite of what the site designer wanted (that people find it easy to get back to their site). For example I've see the following happen on ecommerce sites on multiple occasions: * On site we're testing, tasked to buy a Foo * Find some external link that opens in a new window * User views the link, hit's back button - back button fails (it's a new window) * They then just Google for "Buying Foo" of similar * Pick a new site - probably amazon or some other familiar name * Continue with the purchase elsewhere People understand how to return to your site when they visit another. You hit the back button. Break that behaviour and you make it harder not easier for most people. Especially in mobile & tablet browsers where tabs are often much less visually obvious.