Title: External Links Manager – Open new window in a new tab + nofollow, noreferrer
Author: NewCodeByte
Published: <strong>26 mai 2025</strong>
Last modified: 15 décembre 2025

---

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# External Links Manager – Open new window in a new tab + nofollow, noreferrer

 Par [NewCodeByte](https://profiles.wordpress.org/newcodebyte/)

[Télécharger](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/smart-external-links-manager.1.3.4.zip)

[Prévisualisation en direct](https://fr.wordpress.org/plugins/smart-external-links-manager/?preview=1)

 * [Détails](https://fr.wordpress.org/plugins/smart-external-links-manager/#description)
 * [Avis](https://fr.wordpress.org/plugins/smart-external-links-manager/#reviews)
 *  [Installation](https://fr.wordpress.org/plugins/smart-external-links-manager/#installation)
 * [Développement](https://fr.wordpress.org/plugins/smart-external-links-manager/#developers)

 [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/smart-external-links-manager/)

## Description

**Take full control of your WordPress site’s links with Smart External Links Manager!**
**
The professional solution for managing external links on modern WordPress sites.**
Reliably handles dynamic content (AJAX, infinite scroll) and gives you complete 
control over SEO and style.

This powerful plugin ensures all external links open in a new browser window or 
tab, enhancing user experience and keeping visitors on your site longer. Built with**
SEO best practices** and **XHTML Strict compliance** in mind, it offers a seamless
integration for both users and search engines.

Its **highly configurable** settings panel allows you to precisely tailor link behavior
to your needs. The core mechanism uses JavaScript to open links, the preferred method
for XHTML 1.0 Strict compliance, avoiding `target` attribute modifications that 
could invalidate your markup. If JavaScript is disabled, links gracefully open in
the current window.
 Ideal for blogs, affiliate sites, magazines, and business websites
that rely heavily on external links.

### Who is this plugin for?

 * Bloggers and Content Creators who want to improve user engagement.
 * Affiliate Marketers who need to manage rel= »sponsored » and « nofollow » attributes
   correctly.
 * Website owners using modern themes with infinite scroll or AJAX-loaded content.
 * Developers who need a reliable, XHTML Strict compliant, and lightweight solution
   for their clients.
 * Anyone who wants a simple, set-and-forget tool to manage external links professionally.

**Key Features Include:**

 * **Automatic New Tab for External Links:** Improve site engagement by default.
 * **Optional Link Icon:** Visually indicate links that open in a new tab with a
   customizable Dashicon or symbol (e.g., 🔗, ).
 * **Custom Styling via CSS Class:** Optionally add a specific CSS class to modified
   links, giving you a clean hook to style them exactly as you want from your theme.
 * **Link Tooltip:** Option to display a customizable text tooltip on mouse hover
   for all modified links.
 * **XHTML Strict Compliant:** Uses JavaScript for `window.open()`, preserving markup
   validity.
 * **Security First:** Automatically adds `rel="noopener"` to all modified links.
 * **SEO Enhancements:**
    - **UGC Ready:** Works seamlessly with WordPress’s default rel= »ugc » on comment
      links, ensuring best practices for user-generated content.
    - Option to add `rel="noreferrer"` for enhanced privacy.
    - Option to add `rel="nofollow"` for specific link types.
    - Option to add `rel="sponsored"` for paid or affiliate links.
 * **Granular Control with Lists:**
    - **Force List:** Specify URLs or patterns (e.g., internal PDFs, specific pages)
      that should _always_ open in a new tab.
    - **Ignore List:** Define URLs or patterns that should _never_ open in a new
      tab, even if external (highest priority).
 * **User-Friendly Settings:** Intuitive interface to manage all options, including
   dynamic lists.
 * **Lightweight & Efficient:** Designed to be performant and not slow down your
   site. Dynamically processes new links added via AJAX.
 * **Internationalization Ready:** Easily translatable into any language.

**Why Choose Smart External Links Manager?**

 * **User Experience:** Keep users on your site while allowing them to explore external
   resources.
 * **SEO Friendly:** Proper use of `rel` attributes (`noopener`, `noreferrer`, `
   nofollow`, `sponsored`) without altering `href` for search engines.
 * **Compliance:** Adheres to XHTML Strict standards for modern web development.
 * **Flexibility:** Extensive configuration options to suit any website’s needs.
 * **Developer Support:** From the creator of NewCodeByte, with a commitment to 
   quality and updates.

**Future Enhancements Planned:**
 * Excluding specific links via CSS selectors. *
Advanced management for internal link behavior. * And much more!

### Support

If you need help or have a question, the best place to ask is the [support forum on WordPress.org](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/smart-external-links-manager/)(
once the plugin is listed).
 You can also visit [NewCodeByte](https://newcodebyte.altervista.org)
for more information.

Found this plugin useful? Please consider [leaving a ★★★★★ review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/smart-external-links-manager/reviews/#new-post)!

Want to support future development? [Buy me a coffee ☕](https://buymeacoffee.com/codebytewp)!

## Captures d’écrans

 * [[
 * The main settings page showing general options, including the « Display External
   Link Icon » option.
 * [[
 * Managing the Force List with the dynamic item adder.
 * [[
 * Managing the Ignore List.

## Installation

 1. Upload the `smart-external-links-manager` folder to the `/wp-content/plugins/` 
    directory.
 2. Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress.
 3. Configure the settings under **Settings > Links Manager**.

## FAQ

### Does this affect SEO?

This plugin is designed to be SEO-friendly. By using JavaScript to open links in
a new tab and correctly managing `rel` attributes (like `noopener`, `noreferrer`,`
nofollow`, `sponsored`), it doesn’t negatively impact SEO. The `href` attribute 
itself is not modified for search engine crawlers. Opening links in a new tab is
primarily a user experience choice.

### Why use JavaScript instead of target= »_blank »?

Using `window.open()` via JavaScript is the recommended method for XHTML 1.0 Strict
compliance. Directly adding `target="_blank"` can invalidate strict markup. This
JavaScript approach also allows for dynamic addition of window features like `noopener`
and `noreferrer` effectively.

### How does this plugin handle WordPress external links?

It automatically identifies external links on your WordPress website and uses JavaScript
to open them in a new tab or window. The plugin also manages important SEO attributes
like rel= »noopener », « nofollow », and « noreferrer », giving you full control.

### Can I customize which links open in a new tab?

Yes, you can use the Force List and Ignore List to specify URLs or URL patterns 
to always or never open in a new tab.

### Can I choose a different icon for external links?

Absolutely! From the settings page, you can enable the « Display External Link Icon»
option. Once enabled, a new dropdown menu will appear, allowing you to choose from
a wide variety of Dashicons and modern Unicode symbols (like  or 🔗) to best match
your site’s style.

### How does the plugin handle links in comments (UGC)?

The plugin is fully compatible with WordPress’s handling of User-Generated Content(
UGC). By default, WordPress adds rel= »nofollow ugc »to links in comments. Our plugin
respects this and applies its own rules on top, such as opening these links in a
new tab. If you enable the « Add nofollow » option in the settings, it will ensure
nofollow is present, harmonizing perfectly with WordPress’s SEO best practices.

### Is this plugin compatible with caching and minification plugins?

Yes, it is lightweight and works well alongside most caching and optimization plugins.

### What is the priority of Force/Ignore lists?

 1. **Ignore List:** Links matching patterns here will _always_ open in the _same_ 
    tab.
 2. **Force List:** If not ignored, links matching patterns here will _always_ open
    in a _new_ tab.
 3. **Default Behavior:** If not in ignore or force lists, external links open in a
    new tab, internal links in the same tab.

## Avis

![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7dd1b03fc8095b905a03cf8cc220d984f788b1077c0efa3c743582562c3d42cb?
s=60&d=retro&r=g)

### 󠀁[Works great](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/works-great-9637/)󠁿

 [Roberto](https://profiles.wordpress.org/zebraxy/) 17 juillet 2025 1 réponse

Very nice plugin, works excellent, super handy, thank you!

 [ Lire l’avis ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/smart-external-links-manager/reviews/)

## Contributeurs/contributrices & développeurs/développeuses

« External Links Manager – Open new window in a new tab + nofollow, noreferrer »
est un logiciel libre. Les personnes suivantes ont contribué à cette extension.

Contributeurs

 *   [ NewCodeByte ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/newcodebyte/)

“External Links Manager – Open new window in a new tab + nofollow, noreferrer” a
été traduit dans 1 locale. Remerciez [l’équipe de traduction](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/smart-external-links-manager/contributors)
pour ses contributions.

[Traduisez « External Links Manager – Open new window in a new tab + nofollow, noreferrer » dans votre langue.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/smart-external-links-manager)

### Le développement vous intéresse ?

[Parcourir le code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/smart-external-links-manager/),
consulter le [SVN dépôt](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/smart-external-links-manager/),
ou s’inscrire au [journal de développement](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/smart-external-links-manager/)
par [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/smart-external-links-manager/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).

## Journal des modifications

#### 1.3.4

 * **New Feature:** Added a « Reset to Default Settings » button on the settings
   page. This allows users to safely revert all options to their original configuration
   with a single click, improving usability and making troubleshooting easier.
 * **Tweak:** The new reset button is styled in red to clearly distinguish it as
   a potentially destructive action, following WordPress UI conventions.

#### 1.3.3

 * **New Feature:** Added an option to display a customizable text tooltip on mouse
   hover for all modified links, improving user experience and accessibility.

#### 1.3.2

 * **New Feature:** The admin settings page has been completely reorganized into
   a modern tabbed interface, separating Settings, Guide & Support, and a new « 
   NewCodeByte Apps » section for a cleaner and more intuitive user experience.
 * **Enhancement:** The « Guide & Support » content has been moved to its own dedicated
   tab, decluttering the main settings screen.
 * **Enhancement:** Added a new « NewCodeByte Apps » tab to showcase other available
   plugins from the author.
 * **Dev:** Corrected the text domain for translatable strings in the new « Apps»
   tab to ensure the plugin is self-contained and does not rely on other plugins
   for translations.
 * **Dev:** Updated internal plugin version constant to ensure proper cache-busting
   for CSS and JavaScript assets on update.

#### 1.3.1

 * **Enhancement:** The admin settings page has been modernized. All checkboxes 
   have been replaced with a more intuitive and compact toggle switch interface.
 * **Enhancement:** Improved user experience for Firefox. While browser limitations
   prevent icon previews in the selection list, a clear notice is now displayed 
   to inform the user.
 * **Dev:** Minor code refinements for better stability and future compatibility.

#### 1.3

 * New: Added an option to apply a custom CSS class to all modified links. This 
   provides a standard-compliant way for users to add their own styles (e.g., color,
   borders) via their theme’s CSS.
 * Enhancement: The admin settings page is now more interactive. The new Custom 
   CSS Class text field is conditionally displayed only when its parent option is
   enabled.
 * Enhancement: The « How This Plugin Works » guide in the settings page has been
   updated to better explain the plugin’s advanced features, including its AJAX-
   ready capabilities.
 * Dev: Refactored the admin JavaScript to use a reusable function for handling 
   conditional option visibility.
 * Dev: Updated the frontend JavaScript to cleanly add and remove the new custom
   CSS class during link processing.

#### 1.2

 * New: Customizable Link Icons! You can now choose from a wide variety of Dashicons
   or modern Unicode symbols (like , ↪, 🔗) to perfectly match your site’s design.
   This feature is powered by a flexible JSON-based icon library.
 * New: Interactive URL/Pattern Lists. The « Force » and « Ignore » lists in the
   admin settings are now fully interactive. Easily add or remove entries without
   reloading the page for a much faster workflow.
 * Enhancement: Improved Admin Interface. The settings page has been reorganized
   for better clarity. The icon selection control is now dynamically shown or hidden
   based on the « Display Icon » setting.
 * Enhancement: Better Support & Guidance. The « Help & Support » section has been
   completely revamped with clearer explanations, a detailed guide on UGC link handling,
   and a new FAQ section in the readme file.
 * Dev: Code Refinements & i18n. Refactored and improved the rendering of admin 
   option fields. All new strings are fully localizable.

#### 1.1

 * New: Added an option to display a visual icon (Dashicon 🔗) next to links set
   to open in a new window/tab.
 * Enhancement: Implemented `MutationObserver` to process links added dynamically
   after page load (e.g., via AJAX).
 * Enhancement: Added frontend CSS file (`welm-frontend.css`) for icon styling.
 * Dev: Conditionally enqueues Dashicons stylesheet when the icon feature is active.

#### 1.0

 * Initial stable release.
 * Opens external links in a new window/tab using JavaScript (XHTML Strict compliant
   method).
 * Adds `noopener` by default to new windows for security.
 * Configurable options:
    - Enable/disable plugin functionality.
    - Add `noreferrer` to window features for new tabs.
    - Add `rel="nofollow"` to links modified by the plugin.
    - Add `rel="sponsored"` to links modified by the plugin.
    - Force List: Specify URLs/patterns to always open in a new window.
    - Ignore List: Specify URLs/patterns to never open in a new window (overrides
      external/force).
 * User-friendly interface for managing Force and Ignore lists with AJAX-like behavior.
 * Admin settings page (Settings > Links Manager) with a comprehensive Guide & Support
   section.
 * Internationalization ready (.pot file included).

## Méta

 *  Version **1.3.4**
 *  Dernière mise à jour **il y a 4 mois**
 *  Installations actives **40+**
 *  Version de WordPress ** 4.5 ou plus **
 *  Testé jusqu’à **6.9.4**
 *  Version de PHP ** 7.0 ou plus **
 *  Langues
 * [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/smart-external-links-manager/) et
   [Russian](https://ru.wordpress.org/plugins/smart-external-links-manager/).
 *  [Traduisez la dans votre langue](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/smart-external-links-manager)
 * Étiquettes
 * [external links](https://fr.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/external-links/)[new tab](https://fr.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/new-tab/)
   [new window](https://fr.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/new-window/)[nofollow](https://fr.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/nofollow/)
   [noopener](https://fr.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/noopener/)
 *  [Vue avancée](https://fr.wordpress.org/plugins/smart-external-links-manager/advanced/)

## Évaluations

 5 sur 5 étoiles.

 *  [  1 avis à 5 étoile     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/smart-external-links-manager/reviews/?filter=5)
 *  [  0 avis à 4 étoile     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/smart-external-links-manager/reviews/?filter=4)
 *  [  0 avis à 3 étoile     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/smart-external-links-manager/reviews/?filter=3)
 *  [  0 avis à 2 étoile     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/smart-external-links-manager/reviews/?filter=2)
 *  [  0 avis à 1 étoile     ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/smart-external-links-manager/reviews/?filter=1)

[Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/smart-external-links-manager/reviews/#new-post)

[Voir tous les avis](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/smart-external-links-manager/reviews/)

## Contributeurs

 *   [ NewCodeByte ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/newcodebyte/)

## Support

Quelque chose à dire ? Besoin d’aide ?

 [Voir le forum de support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/smart-external-links-manager/)