Opening a link in a new tab can preserve a useful working page, but it can also make navigation feel unpredictable. I decide the behaviour from the task rather than applying one blanket rule to every external address.
The useful question is what the person is doing when they follow the link. Are they reading a reference, leaving to complete a payment, opening a document or simply choosing another article? The answer gives the design more direction than whether the destination belongs to another domain.
Start with ordinary navigation
For a normal move from one page to another, I generally favour the browser’s ordinary behaviour. People can choose to open links in another tab themselves, and the back button gives them a familiar way to return. Forcing extra tabs changes that model.
A collection of article cards is a good example. Someone may want to read several, but they may also expect each selection to replace the current page. Automatically opening every card in another tab can produce a cluttered session, especially on a phone where those tabs are less visible.
Keeping visitors on a site is not, by itself, a convincing reason to override their navigation. I would rather make the destination and return route useful than try to keep an old page open as evidence that the visit continues.
Identify the genuine exceptions
There are situations where preserving the current context is useful. A reference opened beside a partly completed task may warrant separate treatment, provided the behaviour is clear. Even then, I first ask whether the task can preserve its own state properly.
A new tab should not be a patch for a form that loses work unnecessarily. If the person returns and their information has disappeared anyway, the extra tab has not solved the underlying problem. State preservation and navigation behaviour need to be reviewed together.
Documents deserve a deliberate decision too. A link to a downloadable file should describe what it is, and where helpful its format or size. The browser may handle that file differently according to the user’s settings, so I avoid promising an exact viewing experience that the site does not control.
Signal a meaningful change
When a link deliberately opens a new tab, give people a clear indication where that change would otherwise be surprising. A small icon can support the label, but the meaning should not depend on recognising an unfamiliar symbol.
The wording should remain proportionate. Repeating a long warning beside every link can overwhelm a short page. I look for a consistent, understandable pattern that works visually and for people using assistive technology.
I also check the accessible name of the link. The destination remains the most important information; a behaviour hint should clarify it rather than replace it. “Open” is a weak label when “Delivery guide” would explain what the person is choosing.
Test the return journey
Follow the link on desktop and mobile, then return using the route a normal visitor would expect. Check whether the original page, scroll position and any entered information remain useful. A link review ends after the person comes back, not when the destination first appears.
Finally, document the small number of exceptions so future editors do not invent a new rule for each page. Consistency makes the site easier to learn. The aim is a predictable journey that respects how people use their browser while preserving important work where the task requires it.