How to use Javascript to open a link (external website) without HTTPS protocol?

Question

This code (with HTTPS protocol), successfully opens https://www.google.com.

<script>
    function openInNewTab() {
        var url = 'https://www.google.com';
        var win = window.open(url, '_blank');
        win.focus();
    }
</script>

<div onclick="openInNewTab();">OPEN LINK ON A NEW WINDOW</div>

But when I use this code (without HTTP protocol), it opens https://www.example.com/www.google.com instead.

JSFiddle

<script>
    function openInNewTab() {
        var url = 'www.google.com';
        var win = window.open(url, '_blank');
        win.focus();
    }
</script>

<div onclick="openInNewTab();">OPEN LINK ON A NEW WINDOW</div>

Is there a way to use Javascript to open an external website without HTTPS protocol?

you need to have a protocol when fetching cross domain ... at least //www.google.com - then the protocol will depend on the protocol of the page making the request (http or https) — Jaromanda X
– Jaromanda X, Commented Mar 14, 2017 at 2:39
Yes, otherwise the browser will assume that it is a relative path of the current domain. — Raphael Rafatpanah
– Raphael Rafatpanah, Commented Mar 14, 2017 at 2:40

derp · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-14 02:43:06Z

3

Why not just use an external anchor tag with the target set to _blank?

E.g

<a href="http://www.google.com" target="_blank">OPEN LINK A NEW WINDOWS</a>

Although in this example, google will redirect to https because security

answered Mar 14, 2017 at 2:43

derp

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Comments

Peter Behr · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-14 09:42:45Z

2

A URL string without a protocol at the beginning (or the "protocol-relative shorthand" // for which there are good arguments to not use it) will be considered either an anchor URL if it begins with a hash, #fragment, or otherwise a relative URL. A relative URL just puts www.google.com on top of the current level of the path. If your location is http://www.example.com then that becomes http://www.example.com/www.google.com. Or if it's http://foo.net/bar/baz/quux.html, that becomes http://foo.net/bar/baz/www.google.com.

answered Mar 14, 2017 at 9:42

Peter Behr

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Comments

Stuart Richardson · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-14 03:12:34Z

-1

var url = new URL('http://example.com');

Keep in mind that when you are opening http://google.com they have a redirect to their https protocol. Not much you can do about that.

answered Mar 14, 2017 at 3:12

Stuart Richardson

1

1 Comment

F.M.F. Over a year ago

Further notes which won't answer the question should be put into the comment section!

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