HTML5 noreferrer link relation

// January 24th, 2010 // No Comments // Programming

HTML5

HTML5 introduced the new attribute rel = “noreferer”, this tag is used with the tags link <a>, the purpose is, as the saying goes, to hide the referer or other words from the address which the visitor came from, or in other word, it will prevent browsers from sending the referrer.

This tag can be used on <a> or <area> elements:
<a rel=”noreferrer” href=”www.example.com”> Outbound Link</a>

On www.example.com’s header generated after user click the link, the HTTP referer field will be empty. Just like visitor came from typing directly on address bar.

Unlike the attribute rel = “nofollow” that affects the quality of backlinks, the attribute rel = “noreferer” as the use of javascript link will affect the quality of statistical data by measurement tools like google analytics. Or just plain statistical tools built in on CMS.

For now, only the open source Webkit browser supports this attribute that will soon be supported by Google Chrome, Firefox and IE.

I don’t really see the benefit provided by this new attribute. I don’t know, what do you think?