External Link Control by This Is My URL

Control outbound link behavior across your WordPress site — adding nofollow, noopener noreferrer, and target="_blank" at render time without touching stored content.

Features

• Enable or disable external link filtering globally from one settings screen.
• Open external links in a new tab with target="_blank".
• Add rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" to external links automatically.
• Leaves your database content untouched — all changes happen during output rendering.
• Internal links are always left alone.

How It Works

The plugin hooks into the_content filter and rewrites only external http and https links during rendering. No post content is stored differently; your editorial data stays clean.

Requirements

• WordPress 6.0+
• PHP 7.4+

Installation

1. Upload the plugin files to /wp-content/plugins/thisismyurl-external-link-control/.
2. Activate through the WordPress Plugins screen.
3. Go to Tools > Link Control.
4. Enable the options you want and save.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this modify my post content in the database? No. All modifications happen at render time only. Your stored content is never rewritten.

Does it affect internal links? No. Only external http and https links are affected.

Is it compatible with page builders? Yes, as long as the page builder renders content through the_content filter.

Versioning

This plugin uses the format 1.Yddd:

• Y = last digit of the year
• ddd = Julian day number

Standards

• Direct access protection with ABSPATH checks.
• Nonce and capability checks for admin actions.
• Escaping and sanitization aligned with WordPress coding standards.

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Support and Contribute

Ways to Support

I'm building these tools because WordPress developers and site owners deserve straightforward, practical solutions. There's no tracking, no ads, and you don't need to pay to use these plugins.

If you find them helpful, here are some genuine ways to support the work:

• Sponsor if it fits your budget: You can sponsor the project through GitHub Sponsors. Sponsorship helps, but it's always optional.
• Contribute code or ideas: Opening a pull request, reporting an issue, or testing edge cases is just as valuable as sponsorship. Helping me improve these plugins is a great way to contribute.
• Share your experience: A review on [my Google My Business profile]([Add your Google Business Profile URL here]) or a follow on WordPress.org, GitHub, or LinkedIn helps others find this work.

Report Issues and Questions

Found a bug? Want to suggest a feature? Just curious how something works?

• File an issue: Use the Issues tab. Include your WordPress and PHP version, and steps to reproduce.
• Start a discussion: Use the Discussions tab for questions, ideas, or general conversation about the plugin.

Contributing Code

Code contributions are welcome and genuinely valuable. Here's the workflow:

1. Fork this repository and clone it locally.
2. Create a feature branch with a clear name (e.g., feature/improve-safety-check).
3. Make your changes and test thoroughly on edge cases.
4. Follow WordPress coding standards — run composer run lint:phpcs before opening a PR.
5. Open a pull request with a clear description of what changed and why.

I review PRs thoughtfully and appreciate well-tested contributions. Contributing is never required, but it's genuinely helpful.

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About This Is My URL

This plugin supports the work I do at This Is My URL, where I help WordPress teams build secure, performant, and maintainable sites.

This plugin is built and maintained by This Is My URL, a WordPress development and technical SEO practice. I'm Christopher Ross, a WordPress developer and technical SEO specialist with 25+ years of experience in software development, training, and digital learning.

My Background

• 25+ years in software development, technical training, and digital systems design
• WordPress contributor since 2007 with a strong track record helping organizations build practical, maintainable web systems
• Technical SEO practitioner helping sites improve performance, security, and search visibility
• Training specialist focused on practical outcomes and helping teams adopt technology with confidence

I believe in straightforward solutions that work. No hype. No unnecessary complexity.

Ways to Connect

• WordPress.org profile: profiles.wordpress.org/thisismyurl
• GitHub: github.com/thisismyurl
• Website: thisismyurl.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thisismyurl

License

GPL-2.0-or-later — see LICENSE or gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html.