What does it mean to have a link with a target of _self?

When a link has a target set to _self, it means that the link will open in the same frame or window in which the link was clicked. This is the default behavior for hyperlinks in HTML. When a user clicks on such a link, the content being linked to replaces the current page in the same browsing context, allowing for a seamless experience as it does not disrupt the user's current workflow by opening new tabs or windows.

Other options illustrate alternative behaviors. For instance, a target of _blank would open the link in a new tab, and other special targets could potentially involve opening new windows or modifying how links operate, but in the case of _self, the intended action is clear and straightforward: it simply navigates the user to the linked content in the same frame.