Writing for the Web

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Sometimes called floating windows, pop-up windows appear in front of the current page you are viewing when you click on a link on a Web page. Pop-up windows often function in the same way that end notes do in a print document. Instead of having to turn pages to view the note, however, you simply click on the link to open the window. Pop-up windows offer an important advantage over links that replace the current page you are viewing with a new page: the page you are reading doesn't go away. This increases the likelihood that your reader will return to the page after opening the pop-up window.

Consider using popup windows if your readers will benefit from quick access to information that you don't want to display on the page they're reading – and you don't want them to leave the page.

Figure 1: A popup window

Links Page: Learn more about Web design on the Web Style Guidelines links page. Coding Primer: Learn how to create popup windows in Creating and Controlling Windows with Javascript.

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