What Is The HTML <a> Target Attribute?

Date First Published: 19th December 2022

Topic: Web Design & Development

Subtopic: Web Development

Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions

Difficulty Level: 6/10

Learn more about what the HTML <a> target attribute is in this article.

The HTML <a> target attribute is used to specify where to open the linked page. If no target is specified, the link will open in the same frame. This attribute can contain five possible values, which are listed below.

Even though there are five possible values, the only relevant one is _blank. The other values were used to specify frames (the ability to place one document inside another), which were deprecated in HTML5. Frames were deprecated in HTML5 because they create usability and accessibility issues, such as difficulty printing and bookmarking pages, and difficulty for screen readers and other assistive technologies to understand them. The ability to create frames still exists, but they are now considered obsolete by the W3C.

Example Of The HTML <a> Target Attribute

The link can be clicked on below. It will open in a new tab.

Example Hyperlink

With the _blank value, links will open in a separate tab, allowing a user to click on it without leaving the age they are visiting. This can help keep visitors on a site for longer and it is recommended to add this attribute when adding external links to a website.

Some people believe that users do not prefer to open links in a new tab as they think that they are similar to popup ads that unexpectedly open in a new tab. However, most users prefer to open links in a new tab because it allows them to read pages later without being taken off the page they are currently browsing.