traversing a link via javascript

[pedz]

With Firefox for example, I can configure it so that when I hit "Command" (I'm a Mac user) and poke the link, it opens the page in a new tab or if I hit Shift-Command, it opens it in a new tab and goes to that tab. This is configurable in the browser. Its not unique to FF.

When I traverse a link via javascript, at least in the different ways I've done it so far, I do not get this feature. I tried once and failed to try and create an event and feed it back and that either didn't work or became very browser specific -- I can't recall. Mentally, I simply have it tagged as a failed experiment.

It would be nice if a link could be "traversed" via javascript exactly as if the user poked it with the mouse and get, for example, a new tab or a new window, based upon how the user has his browser configured and what modifier keys he has down at the time of the event.

As I recall, when I was researching the topic, there was some security concerns but I never followed all the claims and counter-claims.

If I want to read about this, which spec(s) is it? html5 or something else?

[zcorpan]

The only way to do it is to actually use a real link. Why would it be nice to do it with javascript? What's your use case?

[pedz]

I don't see how I could be more explicit with my use case. Do you not understand when it would ever be useful to traverse a link with Javascript? Is that your question?

[zcorpan]

You only say that it would be nice, you don't say what problem you're actually trying to solve. Sure I can come up with use cases myself, but I was asking for yours.