Link opens a new tab without warning

Why it matters

A link that opens a new tab without warning breaks the Back button for screen reader and screen magnifier users, who may not notice the new tab. This is a WCAG AAA best practice, so Lumtera shows it as a tip.

Who it affects: Screen reader users who browse by a list of links, keyboard users, and people using voice control who say a link's words to click it.

What Lumtera flags

Links with target="_blank" whose text does not mention that they open a new tab or window.

Check ID link-new-window — use it to filter the content report or with wp lumtera issues --rule.

How to fix it in WordPress

Either turn off "Open in new tab" in the link settings, or add "(opens in a new tab)" to the link text so people know before they click.

In the block editor, this issue has a Fix button: one click repairs the block, and Undo puts it back.

Example

<a href="https://w3.org/WAI/" target="_blank">W3C accessibility guides</a>

<a href="https://w3.org/WAI/" target="_blank">W3C accessibility guides (opens in a new tab)</a>

How to check your fix

1. Update the post. The issue disappears from the Accessibility sidebar on the next check, and from the site report on the next scan.
2. Press Tab through the page. Every link and button should receive visible focus, and its text should make sense read on its own.