Are you tired of dealing with pesky links that redirect to external URLs when all you want is to open a new tab with an internal URL? Well, put your worries to rest because today, we’re going to dive into the world of Next.JS and explore the ultimate solution to this common problem!
Understanding the Issue
Before we dive into the solution, let’s take a step back and understand the issue at hand. In Next.JS, when you create a link inside a link (yes, you read that right – a link inside a link!), the default behavior is to redirect to an external URL when clicked. This can be frustrating, especially when you want to open a new tab with an internal URL.
The Problem: Default Behavior
import Link from 'next/link';
function MyComponent() {
return (
<a href="https://external-url.com">
<Link href="/internal-url">
Click me!
</Link>
</a>
);
}
In the above code snippet, when you click the “Click me!” link, Next.JS will redirect you to https://external-url.com
instead of opening a new tab with /internal-url
. This is because the outer anchor tag takes precedence over the inner Link component.
The Solution: Using theTARGET Attribute
Now that we understand the issue, let’s explore the solution. To make the inner Link component open a new tab with the internal URL, we need to add the target
attribute to the outer anchor tag.
Adding the TARGET Attribute
import Link from 'next/link';
function MyComponent() {
return (
<a href="https://external-url.com" target="_blank">
<Link href="/internal-url">
Click me!
</Link>
</a>
);
}
By adding the target="_blank"
attribute, we’re telling the browser to open the link in a new tab. But wait, there’s more! We need to make sure that the inner Link component is configured to prevent the default redirect behavior.
Preventing Default Redirect Behavior
import Link from 'next/link';
function MyComponent() {
return (
<a href="https://external-url.com" target="_blank">
<Link href="/internal-url" passHref={true}>
Click me!
</Link>
</a>
);
}
By adding the passHref={true}
prop to the Link component, we’re telling Next.JS to pass the href prop to the underlying anchor tag. This prevents the default redirect behavior and allows the inner Link component to control the link behavior.
Putting it all Together
Now that we have the solution, let’s put it all together!
import Link from 'next/link';
function MyComponent() {
return (
<a href="https://external-url.com" target="_blank">
<Link href="/internal-url" passHref={true}>
Click me!
</Link>
</a>
);
}
With this code, when you click the “Click me!” link, Next.JS will open a new tab with the internal URL /internal-url
and ignore the external URL https://external-url.com
.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Now that we’ve covered the solution, let’s discuss some common pitfalls to avoid when working with links inside links in Next.JS.
- Forgetting the TARGET Attribute: Make sure to add the
target="_blank"
attribute to the outer anchor tag to open the link in a new tab. - Omitting the PASSHref Prop: Don’t forget to add the
passHref={true}
prop to the Link component to prevent the default redirect behavior. - Incorrectly Configuring the Link Component: Ensure that the Link component is correctly configured with the
href
prop set to the internal URL.
Conclusion
And there you have it, folks! With this comprehensive guide, you should now be able to make your Next.JS link inside a link open a new tab with an internal URL only. Remember to add the target="_blank"
attribute and the passHref={true}
prop to ensure that your links behave as expected.
Attribute/Prop | Description |
---|---|
target="_blank" |
Opens the link in a new tab |
passHref={true} |
Prevents the default redirect behavior and allows the inner Link component to control the link behavior |
By following these guidelines and best practices, you’ll be well on your way to creating links that work exactly as you want them to in your Next.JS application.
Happy coding!
Note: This article is SEO optimized for the keyword “How to make a Next.JS Link inside a Link only open a new tab with internal url and not redirect to external url”.
Frequently Asked Question
Having trouble with Next.js links? Worry no more! Here are some frequently asked questions about making internal links open in a new tab while keeping external links intact.
How to make an internal link open in a new tab in Next.js?
To make an internal link open in a new tab in Next.js, simply add the `target` attribute to the `Link` component and set it to `_blank`. For example: `About Us`. This will open the internal link in a new tab.
What if I want to open an internal link in a new tab only if it’s an internal URL?
You can use the `url` object from `next/url` to check if the href is an internal URL. For example: `import { url } from ‘next.url’; const internalUrl = url.isInternal(href); if (internalUrl) { target = ‘_blank’; }`. Then, pass the `target` prop to the `Link` component accordingly.
How to prevent external links from being opened in a new tab?
You can use the `rel` attribute to specify the relationship between the current document and the linked document. For example: `External Link`. This will prevent the external link from being opened in a new tab, and also improve security by preventing the new tab from accessing the current tab’s context.
Can I use a single function to handle both internal and external links?
Yes, you can create a function that takes the `href` prop as an argument and returns the appropriate `target` and `rel` attributes based on whether the URL is internal or external. For example: `const handleLink = (href) => ({ target: url.isInternal(href) ? ‘_blank’ : ‘_self’, rel: isExternal(href) ? ‘noopener noreferrer’ : ” });`. Then, use this function to generate the link components dynamically.
Are there any performance considerations when using these methods?
While the methods mentioned above are efficient, it’s essential to consider the performance impact of unnecessary re-renders or computations. Make sure to memoize the `handleLink` function and use `useCallback` to avoid re-computing the link properties unnecessarily. Additionally, use a lightweight implementation of the `url.isInternal` and `isExternal` functions to minimize the performance overhead.