Complete Guide to Opening Angular 2 Routes in New Tabs: From Basics to Custom Directives

Problem Context and Standard Solution Analysis

In Angular 2 single-page application development, the routing system enables page navigation without refresh through the routerLink directive. However, when needing to open routes in new browser tabs, developers face a common challenge: standard <a routerLink="/page"> links perform routing within the current tab, lacking native support for new tab opening.

Basic Solution: The target="_blank" Attribute

The most straightforward approach involves adding the target="_blank" attribute to anchor tags. From Angular 2.4.10 onward, the following code functions correctly:

<a target="_blank" routerLink="/Page2">Account managers</a>

This method's advantage lies in its simplicity, requiring no additional code. However, browser compatibility and version requirements should be considered, as earlier Angular versions may need special handling.

Advanced Solution: Custom Directive Implementation

When finer control or backward compatibility is needed, custom directives offer more flexible solutions. Below is the complete implementation of OpenLinkInNewWindowDirective:

import { Directive, ElementRef, HostListener, Input, Inject } from '@angular/core';

@Directive({ selector: '[olinw007]' })
export class OpenLinkInNewWindowDirective {
    @Input('routerLink') link: string;
    
    constructor(private el: ElementRef, @Inject(Window) private win:Window) {
    }
    
    @HostListener('mousedown') onMouseEnter() {
        this.win.open(this.link || 'main/default');
    }
}

The directive's core mechanisms include:

1. Selector Definition: Binding to DOM element attributes via selector: '[olinw007]'
2. Input Binding: Receiving route link parameters through @Input('routerLink') link: string
3. Dependency Injection: Injecting the browser window object via @Inject(Window)
4. Event Listening: Monitoring mouse press events with @HostListener('mousedown')

Module Configuration and Usage

Custom directives require proper declaration and configuration in Angular modules:

import { OpenLinkInNewWindowDirective } from './olinw.directive';

@NgModule({
  declarations: [
    AppComponent,
    OpenLinkInNewWindowDirective  // Declare custom directive
  ],
  providers: [
    { provide: Window, useValue: window }  // Provide Window dependency
  ],
  // ... Other configurations
})
export class AppModule { }

Template usage simply adds the directive selector to existing routerLink elements:

<li><a routerLink="/main/home" routerLinkActive="active" olinw007>Open in New Tab</a></li>

Alternative Approach: Router.serializeUrl Method

Another implementation combines component methods with Router.serializeUrl:

navigateToNewTab() {
  const url = this.router.serializeUrl(
    this.router.createUrlTree(['/page1'])
  );
  window.open(url, '_blank');
}

This approach better suits scenarios requiring additional logic execution upon clicking, though it necessitates separate methods for each link.

Solution Comparison and Selection Guidelines

Implementation Considerations

During actual development, several aspects require attention:

1. Route Path Handling: Ensure complete absolute paths or correct relative paths are passed to window.open()
2. Security Considerations: New tab opening may be blocked by browsers, requiring user interaction triggers
3. State Management: Applications in new tabs are independent instances, not sharing state with original tabs
4. User Experience: Use new tabs judiciously to avoid negatively impacting user experience

Conclusion and Best Practices

Multiple technical solutions exist for opening Angular 2 routes in new tabs, with selection depending on specific requirements and technical constraints. For most modern applications, the target="_blank" attribute represents the simplest effective solution. When complex control or backward compatibility is needed, custom directives provide powerful extensibility. Regardless of chosen approach, ensure code maintainability and consistent user experience.

In practical projects, we recommend:

1. Prioritize target="_blank" for basic requirements
2. Encapsulate complex logic through custom directives
3. Standardize handling for all external link openings
4. Document implementation mechanisms clearly