Javascript: Setting location.href versus location
JavascriptJavascript Problem Overview
When would you set location to a URL string versus setting location.href?
location = "http://www.stackoverflow.com";
vs
location.href = "http://www.stackoverflow.com";
Javascript Solutions
Solution 1 - Javascript
You might set location directly because it's slightly shorter. If you're trying to be terse, you can usually omit the window. too.
URL assignments to both location.href and location are defined to work in JavaScript 1.0, back in Netscape 2, and have been implemented in every browser since. So take your pick and use whichever you find clearest.
Solution 2 - Javascript
Even if both work, I would use the latter.
location is an object, and assigning a string to an object doesn't bode well for readability or maintenance.
Solution 3 - Javascript
Like as has been said already, location is an objectBut that person suggested using either. But, you will do better to use the .href version.
Objects have default properties which, if nothing else is specified, they are assumed. In the case of the location object, it has a property called .href. And by not specifying ANY property during the assignment, it will assume "href" by default.
This is all well and fine until a later object model version changes and there either is no longer a default property, or the default property is changed. Then your program breaks unexpectedly.
If you mean href, you should specify href.
Solution 4 - Javascript
A couple of years ago, location did not work for me in IE and location.href did (and both worked in other browsers). Since then I have always just used location.href and never had trouble again. I can't remember which version of IE that was.
Solution 5 - Javascript
One difference to keep in mind, though.
Let's say you want to build some URL using the current URL. The following code will in fact redirect you, because it's not calling String.replace but Location.replace:
nextUrl = window.location.replace('/step1', '/step2');
The following codes work:
// cast to string
nextUrl = (window.location+'').replace('/step1', '/step2');
// href property
nextUrl = window.location.href.replace('/step1', '/step2');
Solution 6 - Javascript
Just to clarify, you can't do location.split('#'), location is an object, not a string. But you can do location.href.split('#'); because location.href is a string.
Solution 7 - Javascript
With TypeScript use window.location.href as window.location is technically an object containing:
Properties
hash
host
hostname
href <--- you need this
pathname (relative to the host)
port
protocol
search
Setting window.location will produce a type error, while
window.location.href is of type string.
Solution 8 - Javascript
Use global.location.href instead, while working with React.