Noopener and Noreferrer

What are Noopener and Noreferrer?

rel=”noopener” and rel=”noreferrer” are HTML attributes used in anchor tags (<a>) to improve security and control how browsers handle links, especially when opening them in new tabs or windows. These attributes prevent security vulnerabilities and ensure proper tracking of referral data.

What Do Noopener and Noreferrer Do?

1. rel=”noopener”:

Security: When a link with target=”_blank” is clicked, the new page can access the window.opener object of the original page. This could lead to malicious actions, such as redirecting the original page to an unwanted site.

Prevention: The noopener attribute stops the new page from accessing window.opener, thereby protecting against this security risk.

2. rel=”noreferrer”:

Privacy and Security: This attribute prevents the browser from sending the Referer HTTP header to the linked site. Essentially, the linked site won’t know where the traffic originated.

Includes noopener: It also includes the benefits of noopener, providing both security and privacy advantages.

Why Are Noopener and Noreferrer Important?

Security: By using noopener or noreferrer, you prevent malicious websites from exploiting the window.opener object, which could lead to phishing attacks or other security breaches.

Privacy: The noreferrer attribute stops the linked site from receiving referral data, helping protect user privacy.

SEO Considerations: While these attributes don’t directly impact SEO rankings, they enhance the trustworthiness and security of your website, which indirectly influences user experience and, in turn, SEO.

Impact on SEO:

No Direct Impact: noopener and noreferrer do not directly affect your SEO rankings. However, they contribute to a secure and trustworthy website, which can improve user experience—a factor that search engines prioritize.

Referral Data: Using noreferrer means the linked site won’t receive referral data. While this might affect tracking traffic sources in analytics tools, it ensures privacy for your visitors.

Example Scenario:

1. External Resource Link:

You want to link to an external article securely, ensuring privacy and security for your visitors:

2. Internal Link:

For internal links, these attributes are unnecessary because you’re not opening a new window to another domain:

Final Thoughts on Noopener

While rel=”noopener” and rel=”noreferrer” do not directly influence your SEO rankings, they are important for security and privacy, contributing to a more trustworthy and user-friendly website. These attributes help maintain a positive user experience, indirectly benefiting your SEO efforts, by preventing security risks and safeguarding user data.