The Significance of the rel=noopener Attribute in Website Security
Have you ever wondered why WordPress adds the rel=”noopener” attribute when you open external links in new tabs? In this article, we will discuss the importance of the rel=noopener attribute in WordPress and how it can enhance the security of your website.
Controlling Link Behavior
When it comes to adding links to your WordPress website, you can control their behavior using HTML attributes. One useful attribute is the ability to open a link in a new tab. The corresponding HTML code for such a link contains the rel=”noopener” and rel=”noreferrer” attributes.
Enhancing Security
The rel=”noopener” attribute serves a crucial purpose – it prevents malicious JavaScript code from gaining control over the new tab that opens when you click a link. Without this attribute, a malicious website could exploit the JavaScript’s window.opener property to tamper with your original page or inject harmful code, potentially leading to data theft or other security breaches.
Similarly, the rel=”noreferrer” attribute prevents the transmission of referral information to the new tab, adding an extra layer of security.
No Impact on SEO or Performance
Contrary to misconceptions, using the rel=”noopener” attribute does not affect your website’s SEO rankings or overall performance. There is a common myth that this attribute negatively impacts WordPress SEO. However, in practice, search engines do not consider the noopener attribute when evaluating factors such as link authority or SEO ranking.
It is important not to confuse rel=”noopener” with rel=”nofollow”. These are separate attributes with different functionalities. While noopener enhances security, nofollow prevents the transfer of SEO link equity to the linked website.
Although WordPress does not have a built-in option to add nofollow to external links, you can use plugins to achieve this. Check out our article on how to add title and nofollow to links in WordPress for more details.
Affiliate Links and rel=noopener
Some users may wonder whether the rel=”noreferrer” attribute affects affiliate links. Rest assured, it does not. Most affiliate programs offer unique URLs that include your affiliate ID as a parameter. Additionally, many affiliate marketers use link cloaking plugins, which redirect users from their website’s URL to the destination URL. With these methods in place, the rel=”noreferrer” attribute does not interfere with affiliate tracking or attribution.
Embracing the rel=noopener Attribute in WordPress
Maintaining the rel=”noopener” attribute is highly beneficial for your website’s security. There is no need to remove it, as it has no impact on performance or SEO. In fact, trying to manually remove it will result in the block editor in WordPress automatically reinstating it to safeguard your website.
If, for any reason, you need to remove rel=”noopener” from your links, you will need to disable the Gutenberg block editor and revert to the classic editor in WordPress. Afterward, you can add a code snippet to your theme’s functions.php file or use a plugin like WPCode for convenience. Consult our guide on how to easily add custom code in WordPress for more detailed instructions.
Gaining Greater Control with All-in-One SEO
For additional control over the rel attributes in your WordPress links, we recommend using the AIOSEO plugin. This powerful tool allows you to add link attributes such as title, nofollow, and more directly within the WordPress editor, giving you complete flexibility.
Conclusion
Now that you understand the significance of the rel=”noopener” attribute in WordPress, you can confidently manage your links to optimize your website’s security. If you want to deepen your knowledge of links in WordPress, feel free to explore our other informative guides. Additionally, check out our resources on obtaining a free email domain, and don’t miss our expert picks for the best WordPress SEO plugins and tools.
