URL to WordPress release notes - open in the new window

[vyskoczilova]

The URL to WordPress release notes links to a page on wordpress.org, but it does not open in the new URL, which is confusing. You have to click "back" to return to your site to update it.

This fix adds target="_blank" to the links.
I have already provided a fix on Github, I will try to link it here.

The URL to WordPress release notes links to a page on wordpress.org, but it does not open in the new URL, which is confusing. You have to click "back" to return to your site to update it.

This fix adds target="_blank" to the links.

Trac ticket: [](https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/63442)

[davidbaumwald]

Hi @vyskoczilova and thanks for the ticket! Over the last few years, Core has been removing target="_blank" in most places for accessibility reasons. Mainly that uses should have control over whether they want to open things in an ew tab.

Pinging @joedolson for confirmation, but I think this is a close candidate.

[vyskoczilova]

Ah, I see. Haven't thought that it could be an accessibility issue. But from my user perspective, it makes me mad every time I click on it since I can never figure out which link will lead to the update and which to the latest updates. That time I tried to fix it for everyone, but I get it, although from my point of view it's a pain.

[audrasjb]

Hello and thanks for the ticket and patch,
The only acceptable patch for this would be to add "(Opens in a new tab)" in this text string, so the user knows the behavior of the link. But it also complexifies the readability of the link for everyone.

[vyskoczilova]

Hi @audrasjb From my point of view, way better with "Opens in a new tab", let me know, if I should add it.

[joedolson]

Yes, core is only using target='_blank' in cases where navigating to a new page would risk data loss. If necessary, links could be added that open in new tabs as long as they're clearly noted as such (as @audrasjb) says above, but it's preferable to leave it up to the user.

For predictability, it's better if all links open in the same way, as well, so that a user can have consistent expectations of behavior.

The essential problem is that links that do not have target="_blank" allow a user to choose how they wish to open the link, but links with target="blank" only allow the user to open them in a new tab, which can introduce an undesirable change of context.

[vyskoczilova]

@joedolson Yeah, I get it. But looking at the changelog that overwrites my currently opened admin page takes me out of context. I don't expect to open a new page in the same window if it's sure that I would like to continue working on what I've been doing at that time (navigating admin and probably wanting to update WP core).

Anyways, I will leave it up to you (open to update the pull request in any way if you give it a green light). Thank you for the effort you have already put into this ticket!

[sabernhardt]

I needed to run a few searches to find it, but we already have a ticket about this: #52953.