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( Understandable / WCAG 3.2.2 )

Link opens in a new tab without warning text

This check maps to On Input. Use the guidance below to confirm the issue, understand who it affects and ship a fix.

Moderate Level A WCAG 3.2.2 — On Input

What’s wrong

A link opens a new tab but the link text gives no warning.

Why it matters

Screen reader users and people with cognitive disabilities can lose context when a new tab opens unexpectedly. They may think the Back button is broken or not know where they are.

How to fix it

Use semantic HTML and valid ARIA so assistive technology gets the same state and structure as sighted users. Keep labels and states explicit in markup.

Before
<a href="/pricing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pricing</a>
After
<a href="/pricing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pricing (opens in new tab)</a>

If this pattern is generated by a component, fix it once in the shared component so every instance inherits the accessible behavior.

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