Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Correct – calling window.open in an onclick handler opens a new browsing context such as a new window or tab for the specified URL, subject to browser settings and popup blockers
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Opening links in new windows or tabs is a common requirement in web user interfaces. JavaScript provides the window.open function, which can be called in response to user actions, such as clicking a button or link. Understanding how onclick and window.open work together is a basic but important part of front end development and often appears in web technology interviews.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The window.open function requests that the browser open a new browsing context with the specified URL. Depending on browser settings and popup blocker behaviour, this may appear as a new window or a new tab. When window.open is invoked from a user initiated event such as click, most browsers allow it, while calls triggered automatically without user interaction are more likely to be blocked. The onclick attribute is simply one way to bind such a function call to a user event.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: In HTML, define a control such as a button or anchor element and include an onclick attribute that calls window.open, for example <button onclick="window.open("https://example.com")">Open</button>.
Step 2: When the user clicks the control, the browser executes the JavaScript code specified in the onclick attribute.
Step 3: The call to window.open asks the browser to create a new browsing context, typically a new tab or window, and load the provided URL.
Step 4: The browser may decide whether to open a new tab or window based on its configuration and user preferences.
Step 5: If popup blocking is enabled and the call is not clearly associated with a user action, the browser may block the new window; however, legitimate user initiated onclick handlers usually succeed.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can test this behaviour by creating a simple HTML file with a button that calls window.open in its onclick handler. Opening the file in a browser and clicking the button should open the target URL in a new tab or window. If you move the call to run automatically on page load without a click, many browsers will block it, demonstrating the importance of user initiated events for window.open.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is wrong because window.open does not always reload the current page in the same window; its name clearly indicates that it opens a new browsing context in most cases. Option C is incorrect because onclick is a standard event attribute that can run arbitrary JavaScript, including calls to window.open. Option D is clearly wrong because window.open is a JavaScript function implemented by browsers, not a SQL Server function.
Common Pitfalls:
Developers may misuse window.open to create many unsolicited popups, leading browsers to block them and degrade user experience. Another pitfall is assuming that new windows will always open in a particular way; users can configure browsers to prefer tabs over windows or vice versa. Good practice is to use window.open sparingly, for genuine reasons such as opening documentation or external resources, and to rely on normal links with target attributes when simple navigation is sufficient.
Final Answer:
The description is correct, because calling window.open from an onclick handler can open a new window or tab for the specified URL, although the exact behaviour depends on browser settings and popup blocking rules.
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