The term noopener means a rel=”noopener” HTML attribute used in links, which open in a new browser tab or window. When a user clicks on a link with this attribute, a new page will open without affecting the original page.
Example in HTML.
Html CopyEdit.
<a href=”https://example.com” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>Visit Example</a>
Why is Noopener Important?
If rel=”noopener” is not used, the linked website can take control of the originating tab and redirect it elsewhere. This could lead to data theft or malware installation. The noopener attribute prevents this type of manipulation for security reasons.
From 2017, links in WordPress that opened in a new tab had rel=”noopener” added by the platform itself. Also, most modern web browsers will now automatically apply this attribute to links that use target=”_blank.”
Does Noopener Impact SEO?
The noopener attribute does not impact SEO, crawling, or the flow of link juice. It only works at the browser level to enhance security and does not affect SEO.
Should You Use Noopener on Your Website?
WordPress users: this will likely be applied automatically.
If you don’t use WordPress, you should write rel=”noopener” yourself for any links pointing to a new tab because older browsers are at risk.
Even though a noopener is safe, you should always link to a trustworthy, authoritative site.
