Target="_blank"

[choppsie]

Sorry if I am asking a dumb question, but I am trying to validate one of my web pgaes and the W3 Markup Validation Service is saying the target="_blank" is not supported under Strict XTHML.

Does anybody know how I can overcome this issue or is it the case that when a user clicks on a link within your page they are are taken away from your page and on to the new page?

Cheers

[RetroNetro]

This has come up several times and the definitive answer is to either switch to a Transitional doctype or remove the target attribute from the file.

Or there is this: http://www.sitepoint.com/article/sta...ompliant-world

Hope it helps.

[choppsie]

Hi Johnny,

I was thinking this might be the case. In the back of my mind I had it that strict XHTML meant no pop-up's even though this is really not a pop-up but a new window upon a client request.

Will review the link you left, thank you for the swift response!

[PompeyTim]

I was always under the impression that the reason this failed in 'strict' validation, was because when the user clicks on a link it should load the linked page in the same window, and not open a new one, it's all about user experience and giving the user the option to use the 'back' button as users often do, rather than just dictating to them and firing off 'possibly' yet another window, do pop up blockers get in the way of this too?!?

Anyway, I had this issue with a site I did last year, the client wanted the links to open in a new window but I wasn't happy with that, as it failed strict validation, so in the end we compromised and I added a piece of text labelled 'webtip' in an appropriate place. This informed the user that if they wanted to open the link in a new window they would have to hold down the 'shift' key then click the link.

A reasonable and easy to implement compromise I thought.

[AutisticCuckoo]

I was always under the impression that the reason this failed in 'strict' validation, was because when the user clicks on a link it should load the linked page in the same window, and not open a new one

There are two reasons why the target attribute is not allowed in HTML 4.01 Strict, XHTML 1.0 Strict or XHTML 1.1:

1. It is really meant to be used within a frameset, and the use of frames is not recommended anymore. Using target to open new browser windows is not the intended primary use.
   
2. A Strict DTD emphasises the separation of content (HTML or XHTML), presentation (CSS) and behaviour (JavaScript). Opening new windows is behaviour, thus it should be done with JavaScript.

[PompeyTim]

Ahh I see, thanks for clearing that one up!

[spikeZ]

I recall reading or being told here that target="_blank" was deprecated......
or I might just be going mad through lack of sleep

[RetroNetro]

I recall reading or being told here that target="_blank" was deprecated......
or I might just be going mad through lack of sleep

The target attribute alone is deprecated, not just target="_blank" No you are not mad, it is deprecated for the 2 reasons Tommy mentioned above.

[spikeZ]

woooo, see I told you I wasnt crazy - damn voices in my head - I told you Ha!
OK you can stop talking to me now... I said stop - no I wont eat that pickled herring, put the damn gun down......

[xhtmlcoder]

The 'target' attribute is not deprecated as such in XHTML 1.0 since it never appeared in HTML Strict in the first place.

[Raffles]

This and the links within are worth a read