The target=blank attribute in HTML is used to open a link in a new browser tab or window when the user clicks on it. However, it is important to note that using this attribute can have some drawbacks, such as creating a poor user experience, increasing the risk of phishing attacks, and affecting website performance.
To overcome these issues, it is recommended to use CSS to style links that open in a new tab or window instead of using the target=”_blank” attribute. Here’s a complete guide to using CSS to style links that open in a new tab or window:
Styling Links with CSS
To style links that open in a new tab or window, we need to select the links that have the target=”_blank” attribute using CSS. Here’s an example of how we can do that:
a[target="_blank"] {
/* add your styles here */
}
In this example, we use the attribute selector to select all links that have the target=”_blank” attribute. We can then add our CSS styles within the curly braces.
Adding Icons
One common use case for styling links that open in a new tab or window is to add an icon next to the link text. Here’s an example of how we can do that:
a[target="_blank"]::after {
content: url('path/to/external-link-icon.png');
margin-left: 5px;
}
In this example, we use the ::after pseudo-element to add content after the link text. We use the content property to specify the path to the external link icon image. We then use the margin-left property to add some spacing between the link text and the icon.
Changing Link Styles
Another common use case for styling links that open in a new tab or window is to change their styles to make them stand out more. Here’s an example of how we can do that:
a[target="_blank"] {
text-decoration: underline;
font-weight: bold;
color: #f00;
}
In this example, we use the text-decoration property to add an underline to the link text. We use the font-weight property to make the text bold. We also change the text color to red using the color property.
Conclusion
Using CSS to style links that open in a new tab or window is a great alternative to using the target=”_blank” attribute. It allows us to add visual cues to links without affecting website performance or creating a poor user experience. By using CSS, we can make links stand out more, add icons, and customize the link styles to fit our website’s design.