HTML / XML / JS, low-level validity (cross-cutting)LowIndustry consensus

Missing rel=noopener on target=_blank

A link that opens a new tab without rel=noopener lets the new page access the opener via window.opener, a security and minor performance risk. Modern browsers default to it, but I set it explicitly.

What it is

Security gap on new-tab links.

Why it matters

Reverse-tabnabbing risk.

How to fix it

Add rel=“noopener”.

How to find it on your site

  1. Find links with target=_blank.
  2. Check whether they include rel=noopener, and noreferrer where wanted.
  3. Add rel=noopener to new-tab links.
  4. Re-check the links.

Cross-reference to ranking and citation factors

rel=noopener closes a tab-napping security hole on new-tab links. It is a small but standard safety detail.

Impact

Low; security. Consensus (web security best practice).

Evidence

rel=noopener is a standard security practice (web platform guidance). W3C, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2