Welcome to History.js
v1.8b2, June 22 2013 ================== [![Flattr this project](http://api.flattr.com/button/flattr-badge-large.png)](https://flattr.com/submit/auto?user_id=balupton&url=https://github.com/browserstate/history.js&title=History.js&language=&tags=github&category=software) ## News - 22/06/2013: Beta 2 of v1.8 is released. Fixes and uncompressed bundled files. - 31/05/2013: Beta 1 of v1.8 is released. Fixes. - 14/02/2013: Alpha 4 of v1.8 is released. Fixes. - 05/02/2013: Alpha 3 of v1.8 is released. Tests updated. - 21/01/2013: Alpha 2 of v1.8 is released. Correct statechange behaviour. - 19/01/2013: Alpha 1 of v1.8 is released. Started to categorize old balupton's issues. ### History See the [`History.md`](https://github.com/browserstate/history.js/blob/master/History.md#files) file for a detailed list of features, changes, solved issues and bugs ### Involve Please create an issue if something doesn't work or if there is a browser specific bug. I'll try to fix it as soon as possible. Please send me your Pull requests if you have a nice solution! I'm also going to review old issues in balupton's repository and try to solve them too. ## Aims - Follow the [HTML5 History API](https://developer.mozilla.org/en/DOM/Manipulating_the_browser_history) as much as possible - Provide a cross-compatible experience for all HTML5 Browsers (they all implement the HTML5 History API a little bit differently causing different behaviours and sometimes bugs - History.js fixes this ensuring the experience is as expected / the same / great throughout the HTML5 browsers) - Provide a backwards-compatible experience for all HTML4 Browsers using a hash-fallback (including continued support for the HTML5 History API's `data`, `title`, `pushState` and `replaceState`) with the option to [remove HTML4 support if it is not right for your application](https://github.com/browserstate/history.js/wiki/Intelligent-State-Handling) - Provide a forwards-compatible experience for HTML4 States to HTML5 States (so if a hash-fallbacked url is accessed by a HTML5 browser it is naturally transformed into its non-hashed url equivalent) - Provide support for as many javascript frameworks as possible via adapters; especially [Dojo](http://dojotoolkit.org/), [ExtJS](http://www.sencha.com/), [jQuery](http://jquery.com/), [MooTools](http://mootools.net/), [Right.js](http://rightjs.org/) and [Zepto](http://zeptojs.com/). ## Usage ### Instant To ajaxify your entire website with the HTML5 History API, History.js and jQuery the [Ajaxify Script](https://github.com/browserstate/ajaxify) is all you need. It's that easy. ### Ruby On Rails If you are using Rails, then the easiest way for you to try History.js would be to use [Wiselinks](https://github.com/igor-alexandrov/wiselinks) gem. Wiselinks integrates into Rails application and allows you to start using History.js with three lines of code. ### Working with History.js directly ``` javascript (function(window,undefined){ // Bind to StateChange Event History.Adapter.bind(window,'statechange',function(){ // Note: We are using statechange instead of popstate var State = History.getState(); // Note: We are using History.getState() instead of event.state }); // Change our States History.pushState({state:1}, "State 1", "?state=1"); // logs {state:1}, "State 1", "?state=1" History.pushState({state:2}, "State 2", "?state=2"); // logs {state:2}, "State 2", "?state=2" History.replaceState({state:3}, "State 3", "?state=3"); // logs {state:3}, "State 3", "?state=3" History.pushState(null, null, "?state=4"); // logs {}, '', "?state=4" History.back(); // logs {state:3}, "State 3", "?state=3" History.back(); // logs {state:1}, "State 1", "?state=1" History.back(); // logs {}, "Home Page", "?" History.go(2); // logs {state:3}, "State 3", "?state=3" })(window); ``` ### How would the above operations look in a HTML5 Browser? 1. www.mysite.com 1. www.mysite.com/?state=1 1. www.mysite.com/?state=2 1. www.mysite.com/?state=3 1. www.mysite.com/?state=4 1. www.mysite.com/?state=3 1. www.mysite.com/?state=1 1. www.mysite.com 1. www.mysite.com/?state=3 > Note: These urls also work in HTML4 browsers and Search Engines. So no need for the hashbang (`#!`) fragment-identifier that google ["recommends"](https://github.com/browserstate/history.js/wiki/Intelligent-State-Handling). ### How would they look in a HTML4 Browser? 1. www.mysite.com 1. www.mysite.com/#?state=1&_suid=1 1. www.mysite.com/#?state=2&_suid=2 1. www.mysite.com/#?state=3&_suid=3 1. www.mysite.com/#?state=4 1. www.mysite.com/#?state=3&_suid=3 1. www.mysite.com/#?state=1&_suid=1 1. www.mysite.com 1. www.mysite.com/#?state=3&_suid=3 > Note 1: These urls also work in HTML5 browsers - we use `replaceState` to transform these HTML4 states into their HTML5 equivalents so the user won't even notice :-) > > Note 2: These urls will be automatically url-encoded in IE6 to prevent certain browser-specific bugs. > > Note 3: Support for HTML4 browsers (this hash fallback) is optional [- why supporting HTML4 browsers could be either good or bad based on my app's use cases](https://github.com/browserstate/history.js/wiki/Intelligent-State-Handling) ### What's the deal with the SUIDs used in the HTML4 States? - SUIDs (State Unique Identifiers) are used when we utilise a `title` and/or `data` in our state. Adding a SUID allows us to associate particular states with data and titles while keeping the urls as simple as possible (don't worry it's all tested, working and a lot smarter than I'm making it out to be). - If you aren't utilising `title` or `data` then we don't even include a SUID (as there is no need for it) - as seen by State 4 above :-) - We also shrink the urls to make sure that the smallest url will be used. For instance we will adjust `http://www.mysite.com/#http://www.mysite.com/projects/History.js` to become `http://www.mysite.com/#/projects/History.js` automatically. (again tested, working, and smarter). - It works with domains, subdomains, subdirectories, whatever - doesn't matter where you put it. It's smart. - Safari 5 will also have a SUID appended to the URL, it is entirely transparent but just a visible side-effect. It is required to fix a bug with Safari 5. ### Is there a working demo? - Sure is, give it a download and navigate to the demo directory in your browser :-) - If you are after something a bit more adventurous than a end-user demo, open up the tests directory in your browser and editor - it'll rock your world and show all the vast use cases that History.js supports. ## Download & Installation - Download History.js and upload it to your webserver. Download links: [tar.gz](https://github.com/browserstate/history.js/tarball/master) or [zip](https://github.com/browserstate/history.js/zipball/master) - Include History.js - For [Dojo](http://dojotoolkit.org/) v1.8+ ``` html ``` - For [ExtJs](http://www.sencha.com/) v1.8+ ``` html ``` - For [jQuery](http://jquery.com/) v1.3+ ``` html ``` - For [Mootools](http://mootools.net/) v1.3+ ``` html ``` - For [Right.js](http://rightjs.org/) v2.2+ ``` html ``` - For [Zepto](http://zeptojs.com/) v0.5+ ``` html ``` - For everything else ``` html ``` > Note: If you want to only support HTML5 Browsers and not HTML4 Browsers (so no hash fallback support) then just change the `/html4+html5/` part in the urls to just `/html5/`. See [Why supporting HTML4 browsers could be either good or bad based on my app's use cases](https://github.com/browserstate/history.js/wiki/Intelligent-State-Handling) ## Get Updates - For Commit RSS/Atom Updates: - You can subscribe via the [GitHub Commit Atom Feed](http://feeds.feedburner.com/historyjs) - For GitHub News Feed Updates: - You can click the "watch" button up the top right of History.js's [GitHub Project Page](https://github.com/browserstate/history.js) ## Get Support - History.js is maintained by people like you. If you find a bug, report it to the [GitHub Issue Tracker](https://github.com/browserstate/history.js/issues). If you've fixed a bug submit a [Pull Request](https://github.com/browserstate/history.js/pulls) and add your fork to the [Network Wiki Page](https://github.com/browserstate/history.js/wiki/Network). - If you would like paid support and trainings, or have job offers, then refer to the [Network Wiki Page](https://github.com/browserstate/history.js/wiki/Network). If you are qualified with History.js, then be sure to add your details to that page too. - If your company uses History.js on your projects, and would like to see it grow and prosper (better documentation, bugfixes, upgrades, maintenance, etc.) and would love to become a corporate sponsor then do email sponsor@bevry.me - If you would like free support for History.js, then [post your question](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/ask) on [Stackoverflow](http://stackoverflow.com/about) and be sure to use the `history.js` tag when asking your question. - If you've created a website that uses History.js, or know of one, be sure to add it to the [Showcase Wiki Page](https://github.com/browserstate/history.js/wiki/Showcase). - If you'd love to +1 or like this project, then be sure to tweet about it and click the "watch" button up the top of its [Project Page](https://github.com/browserstate/history.js). - For anything else, refer to the [History.js GitHub Wiki Site](https://github.com/browserstate/history.js/wiki). Thanks! every bit of help really does make a difference! ## Browsers: Tested and Working In ### HTML5 Browsers - Firefox 4+ - Chrome 8+ - Opera 11.5+ - Safari 5.0+ - Safari iOS 4.3+ ### HTML4 Browsers - IE 6, 7, 8, 9, (10) - Firefox 3 - Opera 10, 11.0 - Safari 4 - Safari iOS 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, 3.2 ## Exposed API ### Functions #### States - `History.pushState(data,title,url)`
Pushes a new state to the browser; `data` can be null or an object, `title` can be null or a string, `url` must be a string - `History.replaceState(data,title,url)`
Replaces the existing state with a new state to the browser; `data` can be null or an object, `title` can be null or a string, `url` must be a string - `History.getState()`
Gets the current state of the browser, returns an object with `data`, `title` and `url` - `History.getStateByIndex`
Gets a state by the index - `History.getCurrentIndex`
Gets the current index - `History.getHash()`
Gets the current hash of the browser #### Adapter - `History.Adapter.bind(element,event,callback)`
A framework independent event binder, you may either use this or your framework's native event binder. - `History.Adapter.trigger(element,event)`
A framework independent event trigger, you may either use this or your framework's native event trigger. - `History.Adapter.onDomLoad(callback)`
A framework independent onDomLoad binder, you may either use this or your framework's native onDomLoad binder. #### Navigation - `History.back()`
Go back once through the history (same as hitting the browser's back button) - `History.forward()`
Go forward once through the history (same as hitting the browser's forward button) - `History.go(X)`
If X is negative go back through history X times, if X is positive go forwards through history X times #### Debug - `History.log(...)`
Logs messages to the console, the log element, and fallbacks to alert if neither of those two exist - `History.debug(...)`
Same as `History.log` but only runs if `History.debug.enable === true` ### Options - `History.options.hashChangeInterval`
How long should the interval be before hashchange checks - `History.options.safariPollInterval`
How long should the interval be before safari poll checks - `History.options.doubleCheckInterval`
How long should the interval be before we perform a double check - `History.options.disableSuid`
Force History not to append suid - `History.options.storeInterval`
How long should we wait between store calls - `History.options.busyDelay`
How long should we wait between busy events - `History.options.debug`
If true will enable debug messages to be logged - `History.options.initialTitle`
What is the title of the initial state - `History.options.html4Mode`
If true, will force HTMl4 mode (hashtags) - `History.options.delayInit`
Want to override default options and call init manually. ### Events - `window.onstatechange`
Fired when the state of the page changes (does not include hash changes) - `window.onanchorchange`
Fired when the anchor of the page changes (does not include state hashes) ## Known Issues - Opera 11 fails to create history entries when under stressful loads (events fire perfectly, just the history events fail) - there is nothing we can do about this - Mercury iOS fails to apply url changes (hashes and HTML5 History API states) - there is nothing we can do about this ## Notes on Compatibility - History.js **solves** the following browser bugs: - HTML5 Browsers - Chrome 8 sometimes does not contain the correct state data when traversing back to the initial state - Safari 5, Safari iOS 4 and Firefox 3 and 4 do not fire the `onhashchange` event when the page is loaded with a hash - Safari 5 and Safari iOS 4 do not fire the `onpopstate` event when the hash has changed unlike the other browsers - Safari 5 and Safari iOS 4 fail to return to the correct state once a hash is replaced by a `replaceState` call / [bug report](https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=56249) - Safari 5 and Safari iOS 4 sometimes fail to apply the state change under busy conditions / [bug report](https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=42940) - Google Chrome 8,9,10 and Firefox 4 prior to the RC will always fire `onpopstate` once the page has loaded / [change recommendation](http://hacks.mozilla.org/2011/03/history-api-changes-in-firefox-4/) - Safari iOS 4.0, 4.1, 4.2 have a working HTML5 History API - although the actual back buttons of the browsers do not work, therefore we treat them as HTML4 browsers - None of the HTML5 browsers actually utilise the `title` argument to the `pushState` and `replaceState` calls - HTML4 Browsers - Old browsers like MSIE 6,7 and Firefox 2 do not have a `onhashchange` event - MSIE 6 and 7 sometimes do not apply a hash even it was told to (requiring a second call to the apply function) - Non-Opera HTML4 browsers sometimes do not apply the hash when the hash is not `urlencoded` - All Browsers - State data and titles do not persist once the site is left and then returned (includes page refreshes) - State titles are never applied to the `document.title` - ReplaceState functionality is emulated in HTML4 browsers by discarding the replaced state, so when the discarded state is accessed it is skipped using the appropriate `History.back()` / `History.forward()` call - Data persistance and synchronisation works like so: Every second or so, the SUIDs and URLs of the states will synchronise between the store and the local session. When a new session opens a familiar state (via the SUID or the URL) and it is not found locally then it will attempt to load the last known stored state with that information. - URLs will be unescaped to the maximum, so for instance the URL `?key=a%20b%252c` will become `?key=a b c`. This is to ensure consistency between browser url encodings. - Changing the hash of the page causes `onpopstate` to fire (this is expected/standard functionality). To ensure correct compatibility between HTML5 and HTML4 browsers the following events have been created: - `window.onstatechange`: this is the same as the `onpopstate` event except it does not fire for traditional anchors - `window.onanchorchange`: this is the same as the `onhashchange` event except it does not fire for states ## History You can discover the history inside the [History.md](https://github.com/browserstate/history.js/blob/master/History.md#files) file ## License Licensed under the [New BSD License](http://opensource.org/licenses/BSD-3-Clause)
Copyright © 2011+ [Benjamin Arthur Lupton](http://balupton.com)