Link Target, Email, and Telephone Attributes
Audit target blank, mailto, and tel links for correct behavior, security, accessibility, and user expectations.
The Target Blank filter shows links that request a new browsing context. Mail / Tel groups email and telephone actions. These are not automatic SEO errors; they require user-experience and security review.
Review new-tab behavior
target="_blank" can be useful for documents or workflows where preserving the current page matters, but unexpected new tabs can confuse users. Modern browsers generally protect new-tab links, yet explicitly adding rel="noopener" documents the intended separation and supports older environments.
<a href="https://external.example" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
Open the external resource
</a>Avoid forcing every external link into a new tab. Communicate unusual behavior where it helps users.
Validate special links
<a href="mailto:support@example.com">Email support</a>
<a href="tel:+15551234567">Call +1 555 123 4567</a>- Confirm the address or number is current.
- Use a machine-readable international number in
tel:while displaying a familiar format. - Keep meaningful visible text instead of exposing only an icon.
- Avoid placing sensitive user data in prefilled email parameters.
- Group repeated links by footer, contact component, and locale.
- Test devices with and without a configured mail or telephone handler.
Example decision
A footer opens every legal page in a new tab and contains an outdated telephone number across all locales. Remove unnecessary target behavior for internal legal pages and correct the shared contact configuration. Keep a map provider opening externally if that interaction benefits from preserving the contact page.
Verify the change
Test keyboard activation, new-tab behavior, email and phone handlers, visible labels, and destination accuracy. Recrawl and confirm Target Blank and Mail / Tel counts changed only where intended.
External Links
Choose relationship attributes for outbound destinations.
Anchor Text
Ensure icon and action links have meaningful names.
Links Overview
Return to the complete source and destination inventory.
Audit behavior, not just attributes
Target Blank, Mail, and Tel links solve different user tasks. Treat them as inventory filters so you can verify behavior and labeling, not as automatic SEO warnings.
A new-tab link may be appropriate for a document, external application, or workflow that users must keep open. Too many new tabs can be disorienting, especially on mobile or for assistive-technology users. Email and telephone links should display enough context to explain whom the user will contact and why.
Security and usability checks
Modern browsers generally protect target-blank links with implicit noopener, but explicit policies may still require rel="noopener" or rel="noreferrer". Remember that noreferrer also suppresses referrer information, which can affect analytics and partner attribution.
For contact links:
- verify international phone formatting;
- keep visible phone numbers readable;
- avoid sensitive subject lines or personal data in email URLs;
- test on mobile and desktop;
- confirm that repeated contact details are current.
Interpreting crawl changes
A sudden increase in Target Blank links usually comes from a component or CMS default. Review a representative sample before bulk editing. Mail / Tel counts should track real contact locations; a drop may mean contact details were removed, but it can also mean links became plain text or JavaScript controls that the crawler cannot classify.
MDN documents the supported attributes and security considerations for the HTML anchor element. Use Screpy to locate patterns, then decide based on user intent and your site's security policy.
Frequently asked questions
Is target blank bad for SEO?
No. It controls browsing behavior, not ranking value. Use it when opening a separate context helps the user, and keep security and accessibility behavior consistent.
Are telephone and email links crawlable?
They are recognizable link schemes but do not lead to normal web documents. Screpy lists them so contact behavior can be audited; they should not be evaluated like internal HTML destinations.
Should contact links contain tracking parameters?
Only when they are necessary and privacy-safe. Keep visible contact details stable, avoid exposing personal data, and confirm that analytics does not interfere with the native phone or email action. Test the final link on real devices.
Related guidance
Return to the Links overview to compare attributes across the complete link inventory. MDN's rel attribute reference explains relationships such as noopener, nofollow, and other link annotations.