Best way to detect when a user leaves a web page?

Question

What is the best way to detect if a user leaves a web page?

The onunload JavaScript event doesn\'t work every time (the HTTP request takes longer than t

Answer 1

Mozilla Developer Network has a nice description and example of onbeforeunload.

If you want to warn the user before leaving the page if your page is dirty (i.e. if user has entered some data):

window.addEventListener('beforeunload', function(e) {
  var myPageIsDirty = ...; //you implement this logic...
  if(myPageIsDirty) {
    //following two lines will cause the browser to ask the user if they
    //want to leave. The text of this dialog is controlled by the browser.
    e.preventDefault(); //per the standard
    e.returnValue = ''; //required for Chrome
  }
  //else: user is allowed to leave without a warning dialog
});