Opening new browser windows: a user-centred approach

Summary

Opening new browser windows can confuse or annoy users, so designers should take care when considering this approach. New windows should only be opened when doing so supports users' tasks. And users should always be given a clear warning about what will happen when they click on a link that triggers a pop-up or opens a new window.

User responses to new windows

Over the past few years of observing user behaviour in usability tests and in less formal settings, I have seen the following responses when new windows are opened:

  • Confusion: generally the user has not realised a new window has opened and they wonder why their browser back button is no longer working. This can happen to a range of users, particularly novice users and those who are visually impaired, but also more advanced users often only realise that a new window has opened when they try to go back to the previous page using their back button. Sometimes, the user only realises something is amiss when they finish the session and wonder why they have several browser windows to close down.
  • Annoyance: the response of a user who resents the designer taking control of their browser.
  • Acceptance: the user has noticed the new window and appears willing to close it when they're done or move between the open browser windows.
  • Avoidance: a response I have only seen with pop-up windows where the user immediately closes the new window. In a few cases, I've even observed users repeatedly closing the window until they finally realise they are going to have to use it to complete their task. This is likely to be a learned response and a reaction to having been exposed to nuisances like pop-up ads that spring up seemingly at random.

The most common behaviour is the first, but I've seen plenty of annoyed reactions as well. Acceptance and avoidance are less common.

Tell users when you're going to open a new window

The main reason for negative reactions to new windows is the designer's failure to tell the user what is about to happen. The convention is for a link to open in the same browser window, so it's hardly fair to blame users if they end up with a set of stacked windows they can't see, did not expect, don't know how to use, or don't want.

There is, thankfully, a growing convention for warning users when a new window will open. These are some of the approaches I've noticed:

1. Use of a title attribute that is only visible when the user hovers over the link (Source: Adobe)

2. Use of a small icon that has a text alternative of "opens in a new window" (Source: National Information and Library Service)

3. Use of text "opens new window" along with a icon (Source: The Wave)

The third of these is best from a user perspective. A visible warning is more likely to be noticed than something that happens when the user hovers over a link. A user can activate a link before the title attribute appears and miss the warning altogether. Similarly, screen reader users may not hear the title attribute unless they have their screen reader set up to read them.

Relying only on an icon is also problematic when the icon is not in widespread use. Many users will not understand what it indicates because the text alternative for the icon is only visible to those using screen readers or text-only browsers.

Using text together with an icon is a good idea as users do not have to interpret the icon's meaning. The icon is noticeable because of its size, and the use of yellow signifies a warning. However, this method may not be favoured by your clients or some designers who may see it as unattractive. The trend is likely to be for the use of small icons without any associated text. This will be a risky approach unless and until a strong convention develops.

Only open a new window when there's a good reason to do so

Warning a user when you're going to open a window is essential. But it won't eliminate all negative reactions to the practise because some users prefer not to have new browser windows opened and some resent designers taking control of their browser.

Only open a new window when doing so will help the user. The most common use of new windows that provides support to users is a pop-up help screen. Using a pop-up means that the user's task flow is not unduly interrupted, and they can read the help text while referring back to the original window.

Some of my colleagues have suggested that it might also be useful to open PDF documents in a new window. Two reasons are usually cited: users accidentally close down their browser window when they've finished with a PDF document; this can also occur when trying to back out of an unexpected PDF download. In the second case, the solution is to label the link so that the user knows that they are about to open a PDF document. The first may be a legitimate case for opening a new window.

Don't try to control user behaviour

Increasingly, site designers are opening external links in new browser windows. The reason for doing so is the belief that this will keep users on their site. Ironically, unless the user is warned about the new window, many who may want to return to the original site will not be able to, since their back button will be rendered useless in the new, history-free window.

In any case, I advocate treating the user with respect. We should not be trying to control their behaviour by manipulating their browser. Let the user decide if they want to open a link in a new window. Treating users with respect will go a long way towards motivating them to return to your site.

Implementing pop-ups and spawned windows

Many discussions of techniques recommend the use of windows that do not completely cover the original window. This serves as a visual cue to the user that they have a new window open. And where the contents of the new window provide help for the user's current task, it allows them to see the help and task windows at the same time. Some also recommend the use of a "close window" link within the opened window. This is a further reminder that a new window is open, and is particularly helpful if the user has maximised that window.

However, opening a non-maximised window requires the use of JavaScript and some users do not have JavaScript-enabled browsers, while others deliberately turn it off. A larger number of users are using pop-up blockers, and the number is set to grow with the implementation of a pop-up blocker in Internet Explorer, turned on by default in the Windows XP service pack 2 upgrade.

Related (external) links

Published: 25 September, 2004
Updated: 7 January, 2006