Set the target attribute of the link to _blank:
<a href="#" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Link</a>
For other examples, see here: http://www.w3schools.com/tags/att_a_target.asp
Note
I previously suggested blank instead of _blank because, if used, it'll open a new tab and then use the same tab if the link is clicked again. However, this is only because, as GolezTrol pointed out, it refers to the name a of a frame/window, which would be set and used when the link is pressed again to open it in the same tab.
Security Consideration!
The rel="noopener noreferrer" is to prevent the newly opened tab from being able to modify the original tab maliciously. For more information about this vulnerability read the following articles:
- The target="_blank" vulnerability by example
- External Links using target='_blank'
Videos
Set the target attribute of the link to _blank:
<a href="#" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Link</a>
For other examples, see here: http://www.w3schools.com/tags/att_a_target.asp
Note
I previously suggested blank instead of _blank because, if used, it'll open a new tab and then use the same tab if the link is clicked again. However, this is only because, as GolezTrol pointed out, it refers to the name a of a frame/window, which would be set and used when the link is pressed again to open it in the same tab.
Security Consideration!
The rel="noopener noreferrer" is to prevent the newly opened tab from being able to modify the original tab maliciously. For more information about this vulnerability read the following articles:
- The target="_blank" vulnerability by example
- External Links using target='_blank'
Use one of these as per your requirements.
Open the linked document in a new window or tab:
<a href="xyz.html" target="_blank"> Link </a>
Open the linked document in the same frame as it was clicked (this is default):
<a href="xyz.html" target="_self"> Link </a>
Open the linked document in the parent frame:
<a href="xyz.html" target="_parent"> Link </a>
Open the linked document in the full body of the window:
<a href="xyz.html" target="_top"> Link </a>
Open the linked document in a named frame:
<a href="xyz.html" target="framename"> Link </a>
See MDN
You should add the target="_blank" and rel="noopener noreferrer" in the anchor tag.
For example:
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://your_url_here.html">Link</a>
Adding rel="noopener noreferrer" is not mandatory, but it's a recommended security measure. More information can be found in the links below.
Source:
- MDN | HTML element
<a>| attributetarget - About rel=noopener
- Opens External Anchors Using rel="noopener"
It shouldn't be your call to decide whether the link should open in a new tab or a new window, since ultimately this choice should be done by the settings of the user's browser. Some people like tabs; some like new windows.
Using _blank will tell the browser to use a new tab/window, depending on the user's browser configuration and how they click on the link (e.g. middle click, Ctrl+click, or normal click).
Additionally, some browsers don't have a tabs feature and therefore cannot open a link in a new tab, only in a new window.
That will open a new window, not tab (with JavaScript, but quite laconically):
<a href="print.html"
onclick="window.open('print.html',
'newwindow',
'width=300,height=250');
return false;"
>Print</a>
With pure HTML you can't influence this - every modern browser (= the user) has complete control over this behavior because it has been misused a lot in the past...
HTML option
You can open a new window (HTML4) or a new browsing context (HTML5). Browsing context in modern browsers is mostly "new tab" instead of "new window". You have no influence on that, and you can't "force" modern browsers to open a new window.
In order to do this, use the anchor element's attribute target[1]. The value you are looking for is _blank[2].
<a href="www.example.com/example.html" target="_blank">link text</a>
JavaScript option
Forcing a new window is possible via javascript - see Ievgen's excellent answer below for a javascript solution.
(!) However, be aware, that opening windows via javascript (if not done in the onclick event from an anchor element) are subject to getting blocked by popup blockers!
[1] This attribute dates back to the times when browsers did not have tabs and using framesets was state of the art. In the meantime, the functionality of this attribute has slightly changed (see MDN Docu)
[2] There are some other values which do not make much sense anymore (because they were designed with framesets in mind) like _parent, _self or _top.