What are the differences between history.pushState & location.hash?

Question

I\'m trying to update the URL using window.location.hash or history.pushState.

What are the differences and advantages of each method?

Answer 1

I agree with the other answers, but here are a few arguments in favor of location.hash:

• it works in every browser, including Internet Exploder^TM
• history.pushState is a developing standard, and the API may change in the future
• if the users opens a link in a new window/tab, a hash-URL makes sure there is no server request needed to load the page (if the correct caching headers are set)
• The server configuration is easy, since all the server ever sees is the URL without hash-part

edit: I forgot one

• with hashtags, you can use real links (a href). So you don't have to set up click listeners, which improves performance and reduces code size.