CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javascriptdom-events
RetroCoder
RetroCoder

Reputation: 2685

What is "javascript:" used for, and is it compliant?

What is javascript: used for, and is it compliant and should I use it?

I noticed that some of my associates choose to use

javascript:

followed by some function name or some JavaScript code, but it seems unnecessary to me.

I see this a lot in event handlers like:

onclick="javascript: somefunction451();"

Also I have trouble searching for more information on javascript: because it says that I'm trying to do cross site scripting. Especially if I stick it in quotes. Is this something that simply can't be fixed? Should I search this in a Flash only or Silverlight only browser?

Upvotes: 3

Views: 533

Answers (2)

Pointy
Pointy

Reputation: 413826

It's completely unnecessary in "onfoo" attribute values. In that context, it's interpreted as a label by the JavaScript parser. Thus it's not erroneous, but it's useless.

In "href" values, it has a role, but there's really no reason for JavaScript "href" values anyway.

Upvotes: 7

Jonathan M
Jonathan M

Reputation: 17451

It's "unofficial" but "common" and "works in any modern browser" in the place of a URI scheme name per this source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/URI_scheme

This would apply then to <a href="javascript:... only. It's necessary there (but there are better ways to invoke javascript when clicking on an element).

In the onClick= attribute and such, it is a label and unnecessary.

Upvotes: 1

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