target

Controls where links and forms open their results: same tab, new tab, parent frame, or a named browsing context.

Overview

The target attribute specifies where to display the result of a navigation: a link click or a form submission. It accepts keyword values for well-known browsing contexts or a custom name to open content in a specific window or frame.

Applies to: <a>, <area>, <form>, <base>

Values

Value	Where it opens
`_self`	Same browsing context (the default)
`_blank`	A new, unnamed browsing context (new tab or window)
`_parent`	The parent browsing context. If no parent, behaves like `_self`.
`_top`	The topmost browsing context. Breaks out of all nested frames.
`name`	A named browsing context. Reuses it if already open; creates it otherwise.

<a href="/about">About Us</a>  <a href="https://example.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> External Site </a>  <form action="/search" target="_blank"> <input type="search" name="q" /> <button type="submit">Search in New Tab</button> </form>

Security: _blank and noopener

Historically, target="_blank" gave the opened page access to window.opener, allowing it to redirect your original tab to a phishing page. This required adding rel="noopener" as a countermeasure.

Modern browsers now imply rel="noopener" for all target="_blank" links by default. However, adding rel="noopener noreferrer" explicitly is still recommended for clarity and to support older browsers.

Named Targets

Any string that is not one of the underscore-prefixed keywords becomes a named browsing context. If a window or tab with that name already exists, the browser navigates it instead of opening a new one. This is useful for "preview" workflows.

<a href="/draft/page-1" target="preview">Preview Page 1</a> <a href="/draft/page-2" target="preview">Preview Page 2</a>

Targeting Frames and Iframes

You can target a specific iframe by matching the target value to the iframe's name attribute. Links and forms outside the iframe can load content into it.

<iframe name="content-frame" src="/docs/intro" title="Content area"></iframe> <nav>  <a href="/docs/chapter-1" target="content-frame">Chapter 1</a> <a href="/docs/chapter-2" target="content-frame">Chapter 2</a> </nav>

_parent and _top

Inside nested iframes, _parent navigates one level up and _top navigates the outermost window. These are essential for breaking out of frame hierarchies, such as redirecting to a login page from inside an embedded widget.

<a href="/parent-page" target="_parent">Go to Parent</a>  <a href="/home" target="_top">Go to Home</a>  <a href="/login" target="_top">Log In</a>

Setting a Default with base

The <base> element can set a default target for all links and forms on the page. Individual elements can still override it.

<head> <base target="_blank" /> </head> <body>  <a href="https://example.com">Example</a> <a href="https://docs.example.com">Docs</a>  <a href="/settings" target="_self">Settings (same tab)</a> </body>

Accessibility

Opening links in new tabs (target="_blank") can disorient users, particularly those using screen readers or who have cognitive disabilities. The user loses their back-button history and may not realize a new tab opened.

Only use _blank when there is a clear reason (external site, in-progress form would be lost).
Indicate that a link opens in a new tab, either visually (icon) or via text (e.g. "opens in new tab") or with aria-describedby pointing to a hint.
Never force all links to open in new tabs via <base target="_blank"> unless the application context demands it (e.g. a link aggregator).

Limitations

Popup blockers: target="_blank" without a user gesture (e.g. triggered by JavaScript timers) may be blocked by popup blockers.
Named targets persist: A named window stays open until the user closes it. Subsequent links with the same target name reuse it, which can be confusing if the user forgot the window is open.
Sandboxed iframes: The sandbox attribute can block _top and _parent navigation unless allow-top-navigation is granted.
Mobile behavior: On mobile browsers, _blank opens a new tab rather than a new window. Named targets may not behave consistently across mobile browsers.