Is Using `href` or `onclick` Better for Callback Functions in Hyperlinks?

href vs. onclick for Callback Function on Hyperlink

When creating hyperlinks in HTML, you have the option of defining callback functions that execute specific JavaScript code when clicked. This can be achieved using either the href attribute or the onclick event handler.

href Attribute

Attaching JavaScript code to the href attribute, as shown in the example below, may seem like a simple solution:

<a href="javascript:my_function();window.print();">...</a>

However, this approach has several drawbacks:

• It triggers a browser redirect to a "javascript:" URL, which can cause confusion and impede debugging.
• If the JavaScript function name contains special characters, it can break the URL syntax.

onclick Event Handler

Using the onclick event handler is a more preferred method for several reasons:

• It avoids unnecessary browser redirects.
• It provides better encapsulation and organization by keeping JavaScript code separate from the HTML.

<a>

Optimizing the onclick Approach

While using onclick is better, there are further improvements to consider:

• Use return false; to prevent the browser from following the link and potentially causing unwanted redirects.
• Add a title attribute to provide context to visually impaired users.
• Specify a href attribute that points to a relevant alternative if JavaScript is disabled.

Recommended Best Practices

For optimal code performance and accessibility, consider using JavaScript frameworks such as jQuery to attach onclick handlers based on element IDs:

$('#myLink').click(function() { MyFunction(); return false; });

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