What is rel="noopener"?
rel="noopener" is a value you add to a link, usually one with target="_blank", so that the new tab it opens can't access the original page through JavaScript's window.opener. Without it, a malicious page opened from your site could quietly redirect your tab to a phishing copy while the visitor is looking elsewhere, a trick known as reverse tabnabbing.
For SEO it's neutral. noopener doesn't tell search engines anything about the link, doesn't stop link value from passing and isn't a ranking signal. It often gets mixed up with nofollow because both appear in the same rel attribute, and SEO audit tools sometimes flag it even though it needs no action.
noopener, noreferrer and nofollow
Three values that look alike and do different jobs:
| Value | What it does | SEO effect |
|---|---|---|
noopener | Blocks the new tab's access to window.opener | None |
noreferrer | Also blocks access, and stops the browser sending the Referer header | None for rankings, but the destination's analytics sees the visit as direct traffic |
nofollow | Hints that search engines shouldn't pass credit through the link | Yes, see nofollow |
noreferrer matters most for affiliate and partner links, where the other side may need to see that traffic came from you. For how browsers handle the Referer header in general, see meta referrer.
What browsers and WordPress already do
Modern browsers now treat target="_blank" links as noopener by default, so the attribute is mostly a safeguard for older browsers. WordPress adds rel="noopener" when you set a link to open in a new tab in the block editor.
Hydrogen SEO's Open External Links in New Tab/Window switch under General settings adds target="_blank" to external links in your content. With Nofollow External Links also on, those links come out as rel="nofollow noopener". Internal links are left alone.
When an audit flags it
If a crawler reports "external links without noopener", it's a security note, not an SEO problem. Adding the attribute is harmless and takes seconds. What deserves a closer look is the opposite: links that carry nofollow or noreferrer when you didn't intend them to, because those do change how search engines and analytics see the link. For paid or user-submitted links, use the qualifiers in sponsored and UGC links.
Common questions
Does rel="noopener" affect SEO?
No. It is a browser security setting. Search engines don't treat noopener links differently from any other link.
Does noopener stop link equity from passing?
No. Only values like nofollow, sponsored and ugc hint that a link shouldn't pass credit.
Should I add noreferrer too?
Only if you want to hide the referring page from the destination. It makes your visits show as direct traffic in their analytics, which affiliates and partners often don't want.