Re: External links in XHTML 1.1

> Since target="_blank" isn't valid, what is the recommended method for

Reccommendations on usage are actually off topic.

> dealing with external links on a site authored in XHTML 1.1? Until now, I

The same as in all previous versions:  don't consider them to be external.
It's this sort of thinking that is why I say that the modern commercial
web is actually denying the derivation of the name web, as authors are
very reluctant to link off site.  As others have pointed out, popups are
an accessibility issue.

> haven't found a need to differentiate between internal and external links,
> but I am now being asked to do so. Is going back to a previous version of
> HTML the only recourse?

You should use the earliest version that does the job.  As has been much
discussed here recently, true support of XHTML in browsers doesn't 
really exist.

Although I get confused by the status of frame and windowing features
in HTML, and I suspect that a lot of weasel wording goes on, the latest
line being taken is that XHTML 1.1 Transitional is exactly the same as
XHTML 1.0 Transitional, and that is why there is no 1.1 Transitional
DTD.  target has not been in the strict HTML standard for over 5 years 
now.

Better approaches to fast returns to a referring site would be making
manual starting of links in new windows easier, and providing a back
site button, to pop the history back until the site changes; both 
user agent, rather than HTML or authoring changes.

Received on Saturday, 18 January 2003 06:48:36 UTC