✨feature: Add script to tag external links to open in new tab and add class for styling

static/js/modules/TagExternalLinks.js

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+
+/**
+ * Tags external links in the document with appropriate attributes and styling.
+ *
+ * This function identifies all anchor elements with href attributes and determines
+ * if they point to external domains. External links are enhanced with:
+ * - Accessibility label indicating they open in a new tab
+ * - target="_blank" to open in new tab
+ * - rel="noopener noreferrer" for security
+ * - Custom CSS class "extLink" for styling
+ *
+ * Links are considered external if their host differs from the current page's host.
+ * Malformed URLs are silently ignored.
+ *
+ * @function tagExternalLinks
+ * @returns {void}
+ */
+
+function tagExternalLinks() {
+    const currentHost = window.location.host;
+
+    document.querySelectorAll('a[href]').forEach(link => {
+        try {
+            const url = new URL(link.href, window.location.href);
+
+            // If the link's host is different from the current host, treat as external
+            if (url.host !== currentHost) {
+                link.setAttribute('aria-label', 'External link, opens in a new tab');
+                link.setAttribute('target', '_blank');
+                link.setAttribute('rel', 'noopener noreferrer'); // Security best practice
+                link.classList.add('extLink'); // Add a custom class for icons or other styling
+            }
+        } catch (e) {
+            // Ignore malformed URLs
+        }
+    });
+}
+
+export default tagExternalLinks;

static/js/theme.js

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import { registerButtonComponent } from './components/button.js';
 import { registerBackToTopButton } from './components/backToTop.js';
 import GetHeaderHeight from './modules/GetHeaderHeight.js';
+import tagExternalLinks from './modules/TagExternalLinks.js';
 import Navigation from './modules/Navigation.js';
 
 // Add passive event listeners
@@ -50,23 +51,26 @@ import Navigation from './modules/Navigation.js';
  * Application entrypoint
  */
 document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {
-  // Register button component
-  registerButtonComponent();
-  registerBackToTopButton();
+    // Tag external links
+    tagExternalLinks();
 
-  // Initialize Navigation
-  const navigation = new Navigation('navMainToggle', '.menu-vdi__toggle');
+    // Register button component
+    registerButtonComponent();
+    registerBackToTopButton();
 
-  // Initialize Navigation
-  navigation.desktopMenuDropdowns();
-  navigation.mobileMenuToggle();
+    // Initialize Navigation
+    const navigation = new Navigation('navMainToggle', '.menu-vdi__toggle');
 
-  // Initialize Header Height
-  GetHeaderHeight();
+    // Initialize Navigation
+    navigation.desktopMenuDropdowns();
+    navigation.mobileMenuToggle();
 
-  // Add Back to Top button to body
-  const backToTop = document.createElement('back-to-top');
-  document.body.appendChild(backToTop);
+    // Initialize Header Height
+    GetHeaderHeight();
+
+    // Add Back to Top button to body
+    const backToTop = document.createElement('back-to-top');
+    document.body.appendChild(backToTop);
 });
 
 console.log(`theme.js loaded.`);