It makes no difference to what happens. The window specification defines the target parameter as being a string with a default value of "_blank":

WindowProxy? open(optional USVString url = "", optional DOMString target = "_blank", optional [LegacyNullToEmptyString] DOMString features = ""); getter object (DOMString name);

(My emphasis.)

So not providing it at all or providing "_blank" does the same thing. It's up to you whether including it is in some way clearer (or alternatively, unnecessary clutter).

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W3Schools
w3schools.com › jsref › met_win_open.asp
Window open() Method
window.open("https://www.w3schools.com", "_blank", "toolbar=yes,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,top=500,left=500,width=400,height=400"); Try it Yourself » · Open multiple tabs: window.open("http://www.google.com/"); window.open("https://www....
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MDN Web Docs
developer.mozilla.org › en-US › docs › Web › API › Window › open
Window: open() method - Web APIs | MDN
The open() method of the Window ... indicating the URL or path of the resource to be loaded. If an empty string ("") is specified or this parameter is omitted, a blank page is opened into the targeted browsing context....
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W3Schools
w3schools.com › js › tryit.asp
Open a new window and control its appearance
The W3Schools online code editor allows you to edit code and view the result in your browser
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P2hp
w3.p2hp.com › jsref › met_win_open.asp
Window open() Method - W3Schools
W3Schools offers free online tutorials, references and exercises in all the major languages of the web. Covering popular subjects like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, SQL, Java, and many, many more.
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Webmaster World
webmasterworld.com › html › 4683942.htm
Target=“ blank” vs window.open - HTML forum at WebmasterWorld - WebmasterWorld
HTML doesn't distinguish between "new window" and "new tab". It depends on how chummy your users are with their browser's prefs. ... Can someone add Target=“ _blank” to in-post links at WW Middle Click? (or SHIFT + Middle Click?) What's the shortcut on Mac? The · target attribute requires a transitional DOCTYPE in HTML 4, but OK in HTML 5. ... Ctrl+Click works for Chrome. But when the post goes like "look at the graph, during the months of...", one assumes that the link will open in a new tab to have it checked out while reading the post.
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W3Schools
w3schools.am › jsref › met_win_open.html
Window open() Method - W3Schools
window.open("https://www.w3schools.com", "_blank", "toolbar=yes,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,top=500,left=500,width=400,height=400"); Try it Yourself » · Open multiple tabs: window.open("http://www.google.com/"); window.open("https://www.w3schools.com/"); Try it Yourself » ·
Find elsewhere
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Experts Exchange
experts-exchange.com › questions › 20100714 › Removing-about-blank-when-opening-a-new-HTML-window.html
Solved: Removing about:blank when opening a new HTML window... | Experts Exchange
April 3, 2001 - After making some changes to eliminate the about:blank, I now get an Access is Denied error when I return to the original HTML page's window. Here is the latest code pertaining to the JavaScript: ------------ <script language="JavaScript"> function openWindow(URL) { var newwin = window.open(URL); newwin.moveTo(0,0); newwin.resizeTo(screen.ava
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Educative
educative.io › answers › what-is-the-windowopen-method-in-javascript
What is the window.open() method in JavaScript?
In JavaScript, you can do the same thing using the window.open() method. The JavaScript option is useful, even though we can achieve this task with HTML as well. Sometimes, for example, we may need to redirect to a page in our JavaScript code. ... The general syntax is described below. ... All parameters of this method are optional. If none is specified, the method will open a new blank browser window.
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W3Schools
w3schools.invisionzone.com › browser scripting › javascript
Opening a window without a title bar - W3Schools Forum
September 6, 2006 - Like many others, I seek to open a window without a title bar. In this case, I want to use it as a popup topic that can display html content (specifically animations illustrating how to accomplish specific tasks).I came across an article on the web which claims this can be done:http://www.htmlgoo...
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GitHub
gist.github.com › sttk › 22e74eaadde493265f38c539f3cafb37
Window open · GitHub
If this value is an empty string, null or undefined, behaves as same with _blank. If this value is a name of which windows exists, make the first among them target. If this value is a name of which window does not exist, opens a new window and make it target.
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SitePoint
sitepoint.com › html & css
Target=“_blank” vs window.open - HTML & CSS - SitePoint Forums | Web Development & Design Community
June 30, 2014 - I’m working on an application ... use popup windows for such links. But does it have any advantage over a simple target=“_blank” attribute?...
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GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › javascript › javascript-window-open-method
JavaScript window.open() Method - GeeksforGeeks
August 5, 2025 - Example 2: In this example, we will open a blank window by passing the URL as an empty string.
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Alexking
alexking.org › blog › 2005 › 12 › 30 › new-windows
window.open(this.href) vs target=”_blank”
Like most people who have migrated to XHTML for web development, I stopped using target="_blank" for opening links in new windows in favor of onclick="window.open(this.href); return false". They accomplish the same thing (opening the link in a new window) and the second one validates.