Open the WordPress Plugin Directory Link in a new tab

[rajinsharwar]

Currently, the link of the plugin directory in the Add new plugin page opens in the same tab, causing users to be navigated out of their website. I want to propose to open it in a new tab so that the user isn't out of his website.

Plugin Directory page will now open in the new tab.

Trac ticket: https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/58812

[joedolson]

Thanks for opening a ticket!

WordPress practice is to allow users to open links in new tabs or not, according to their preference. Opening links in a new tab removes this choice from the user, and should only be used very selectively if there is a risk of data loss.

As such, I'm recommending this ticket be closed.

[sabernhardt]

The target was purposely removed from the plugin directory link in [38722], along with several other external links in help tabs.

[SergeyBiryukov]

Hi there, welcome to WordPress Trac!

Thanks for the ticket, we're already tracking this enhancement in #20839 and #41202.

See comment:4:ticket:41202 for why this is not implemented yet:

There is an ongoing discussion about links with target _blank, see https://core.trac.wordpress.org/query?keywords=~target-blank.

Ideally, users should have the choice to open a link. Browsers have tabbed navigation since years and years. In very, limited, specific cases, for example to avoid data loss, it might make sense to use target _blank. In this case, users should be informed the link is going to open in a new tab (or window, depending on browser settings).

Let's continue the discussion on the original ticket, #20839, to keep it one place, as previous comments there have some more context and would also need to be taken into consideration.

See also:

• Related discussions in #52407 and #52807.
• #23432 for reviewing the usage of target="_blank" in other links across the admin.