Link target
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Screen reader compatibility
Expected Result: causes problems in some screen readers
Actual Result: causes problems in 72 screen reader / browser combinations
For expected failures, the results show which AT combos the failures affect. Results are recorded from the user's viewpoint, so describe the user impact of authoring errors.
WCAG Failure: F22
Code used for this test:
<a href='https://www.example.com' target='_blank'>Example</a>
Change History
Last updated: November 26, 2024
- NVDA with Chrome Causes problems from NVDA 2018.4 to NVDA 2024.4
- NVDA with IE Causes problems from NVDA 2014.1 to NVDA 2019.2
- NVDA with FF Causes problems from NVDA 2014.1 to NVDA 2024.4
- JAWS with Chrome Causes problems from JAWS 2018.1811.2 to JAWS 2024.2409.2
- JAWS with IE Causes problems from JAWS 14.0.9002 to JAWS 2019.1912.1
- JAWS with FF Causes problems from JAWS 14.0.9002 to JAWS 2024.2409.2
- VoiceOver macOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver macOS 10.13, but now OK in VoiceOver macOS 14.6
- VoiceOver iOS Better - caused problems in VoiceOver iOS 10.3, but now OK in VoiceOver iOS 17.7
- WindowEyes with IE Causes problems from WindowEyes 8.4 to WindowEyes 9.2
- Dolphin with IE Causes problems in Dolphin SR 15.05
Screen reader | Browser | Mode | Notes | What the user hears |
---|---|---|---|---|
NVDA 2024.4 | Chrome 131 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2024.4 | FF 128 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2024.4 | Edge 131 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2023.3 | Chrome 120 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2023.3 | FF 115 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2023.3 | Edge 120 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2022.2 | Chrome 105 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2022.2 | FF 102 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2022.2 | Edge 105 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2021.2 | Chrome 94 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2021.2 | FF 91 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2021.2 | Edge 94 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2020.2 | Chrome 86 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2020.2 | FF 78 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2020.2 | Edge 92 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2019.2 | Chrome 79 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2019.2 | FF 68 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2019.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2018.4 | Chrome 73 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2018.4 | FF 60 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2018.4 | IE11 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2017.3 | FF 60 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2017.3 | IE11 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2016.2 | FF 48 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2016.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2015.2 | FF 41 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2015.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2014.1 | FF 29 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
NVDA 2014.1 | IE11 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
JAWS 2024.2409.2 | Chrome 131 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example link. |
JAWS 2024.2409.2 | FF 128 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example link |
JAWS 2024.2409.2 | Edge 131 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example link. |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Chrome 120 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example link. |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | FF 115 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example link |
JAWS 2023.2311.34 | Edge 120 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example link. |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Chrome 105 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example link. |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | FF 102 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example link |
JAWS 2022.2207.25 | Edge 105 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example link. |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Chrome 94 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example link. |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | FF 91 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example link |
JAWS 2021.2107.12 | Edge 94 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example link. |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Chrome 86 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example link. |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | FF 78 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example link |
JAWS 2020.2008.24 | Edge 92 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example link. |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | Chrome 79 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example link |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | FF 68 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example link |
JAWS 2019.1912.1 | IE11 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, says "new tab page" after link clicked. | Example link. New tab page. |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | Chrome 73 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Tab, example link |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | FF 60 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Tab, example link |
JAWS 2018.1811.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, says "new tab page" after link clicked. | Tab, example link. New tab page. |
JAWS 18.0.5038 | FF 52 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Tab, example link |
JAWS 18.0.5038 | IE11 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, says "new tab page" after link clicked. | Tab, example link. New tab page. |
JAWS 17.0.2619 | FF 48 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
JAWS 17.0.2619 | IE11 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, says "new tab page" after link clicked. | Example, link. New tab page. |
JAWS 16.0.4350 | FF 41 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
JAWS 16.0.4350 | IE11 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, says "new tab link" first time link clicked (but not on subsequent clicks). | Example, link. New tab page. |
JAWS 15.0.9023 | FF 29 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
JAWS 15.0.9023 | IE11 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
JAWS 14.0.9002 | FF 29 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
JAWS 14.0.9002 | IE11 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, says "new tab link" first time link clicked. | Example, link. New tab link. |
WindowEyes 9.2 | IE11 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Link, example |
WindowEyes 8.4 | IE11 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Link, example |
VoiceOver macOS 14.6 | Safari 17.6 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, but Back button goes back to previous page. | Link, example |
VoiceOver macOS 13.6 | Safari 16.6 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, but Back button goes back to previous page. | Link, example |
VoiceOver macOS 12.5 | Safari 15.6 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, but Back button goes back to previous page. | Link, example |
VoiceOver macOS 11.5 | Safari 15.0 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, but Back button goes back to previous page. | Link, example |
VoiceOver macOS 10.15 | Safari 14.1 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, but Back button goes back to previous page. | Link, example |
VoiceOver macOS 10.14 | Safari 13.0 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, but Back button goes back to previous page. | Link, example |
VoiceOver macOS 10.13 | Safari 12.1 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Link, example |
VoiceOver macOS 10.12 | Safari 10.1.2 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Link, example |
VoiceOver macOS 10.11 | Safari 9.1.2 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Link, example |
VoiceOver macOS 10.10 | Safari 9.0.1 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
VoiceOver macOS 10.9 | Safari 7.0.3 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
VoiceOver iOS 17.7 | Safari iOS 17.7 | Touch | No indication link has opened in new window, but Back button goes back to previous page. | Example, link |
VoiceOver iOS 16.6 | Safari 16.6 | Touch | No indication link has opened in new window, but Back button goes back to previous page. | Example, link |
VoiceOver iOS 15.6 | Safari iOS 15.6 | Touch | No indication link has opened in new window, but Back button goes back to previous page. | Example, link |
VoiceOver iOS 14.7 | Safari iOS 14.7 | Touch | No indication link has opened in new window, but Back button goes back to previous page. | Example, link |
VoiceOver iOS 13.3 | Safari iOS 13.3 | Touch | No indication link has opened in new window, but Back button goes back to previous page. | Example, link |
VoiceOver iOS 12.4 | Safari iOS 12.4 | Touch | No indication link has opened in new window, but Back button goes back to previous page. | Example, link |
VoiceOver iOS 11.4 | Safari iOS 11.4 | Touch | No indication link has opened in new window, but Back button goes back to previous page. | Example, link |
VoiceOver iOS 10.3 | Safari iOS 10.3 | Touch | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
VoiceOver iOS 9.1 | Safari iOS 9.1 | Touch | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
VoiceOver iOS 8.4 | Safari iOS 8.4 | Touch | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
VoiceOver iOS 7.1 | Safari iOS 7.1 | Touch | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Example, link |
Dolphin SR 15.05 | IE11 | Tabbing | No indication link opens in new window before clicking, or that one has opened after clicking link. | Normal, example link |
SortSite rules: AccHtmlLinkTargetNew
Test notes
All tests were carried out with screen reader factory settings. JAWS in particular has a wide variety of settings controlling exactly what gets spoken.
Screen readers allow users to interact in different modes, and can produce very different results in each mode. The modes used in these tests are:
- Reading Content read using the “read next” command in a screen reader
- Tabbing Content read using the “tab” key in a screen reader
- Heading Content read using the “next heading” key in a screen reader
- Touch Content read when touching an area of screen on a mobile device
In the “What the user hears” column:
- Commas represent short pauses in screen reader voicing
- Full Stops represent places where voicing stops, and the “read next” or “tab” or “next heading” command is pressed again
- Ellipsis … represent a long pause in voicing
- (Brackets) represent voicing that requires a keystroke to hear