Open multiple links / windows in a single click

A reader asked if she can make a navigation tab open more than one link when clicked. The answer is YES it can be done, with the help from a small Javascript.

(Now if you came here looking for a way YOU can open multiple links on pages you visit, try Snap Links, a  Firefox addon.)

First let’s look at an HTML code for a regular anchor tag <a>:

<a href="YOUR_URL" target="_blank">Link text</a>

When clicked, this code will open YOUR_URL in a new window/tab.

To add another link, just add the code below before the closing bracket “>” in the opening tag:

onclick="window.open("YOUR_2nd_URL");"

It will open YOUR_2nd_URL in a second new window/tab. To add more links, simply add more window.open(); before the closing quotation mark.

So if you were to open three links, your anchor will look like this:

<a href="YOUR_URL" target="_blank" onclick="window.open(&quot;&quot;YOUR_2nd_URL&quot;&quot;); window.open(&quot;&quot;YOUR_3rd_URL&quot;&quot;);">Link text</a>

This is an example of an anchor that opens three links (in three windows or tabs) in a single click:

<a href="http://bloggersentral.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" onclick="window.open(&quot;http://www.tourism.gov.my/&quot;); window.open(&quot;http://www.tic.kelantan.gov.my/&quot;);">This anchor opens three links in a single click</a>

Now see the code in action, click on it and see what happens.

This anchor opens three links in a single click

Before you apply this new trick, do take into account your readers’ would be reactions. Unless forewarned, I personally would feel tricked if say three windows/tabs pop up when I click something.

Enjoy!