How to keep the browser history in sync when using Ajax?

Question

I\'m writing a simple photo album app using ASP.NET Ajax.
The app uses async Ajax calls to pre-load the next photo in the album, without changing the URL in the browser.

Answer 1

If you are using Rails, then definitely try Wiselinks https://github.com/igor-alexandrov/wiselinks. It is a a Swiss Army knife for browser state management. Here are some details: http://igor-alexandrov.github.io/blog/2013/07/11/the-way-to-wiselinks-1-dot-0/.

Answer 2

You can use simple & lightweight PathJS lib.

Usage example:

Path.map("#/page1").to(function(){
    ...
});

Path.map("#/page2").to(function(){
    ...
});

Path.root("#/mainpage");
Path.listen();

Answer 3

The 3.5 SP1 update has support for browser history and back button in ASP.NET ajax now.

Answer 4

Update: There is now the HTML5 History API (pushState, popState) which deprecates the HTML4 hashchange functionality. History.js provides cross-browser compatibility and an optional hashchange fallback for HTML4 browsers.

The answer for this question will be more or less the same as my answers for these questions:

• How to show Ajax requests in URL?
• How does Gmail handle back/forward in rich JavaScript?

In summary, you'll definitely want to check out these two projects which explain the whole hashchange process and adding ajax to the mix:

• jQuery History (using hashes to manage your pages state and bind to changes to update your page).

• jQuery Ajaxy (ajax extension for jQuery History, to allow for complete ajax websites while being completely unobtrusive and gracefully degradable).

Answer 5

Info: Ajax Navigation is a regular feature of the upcoming IE8.

Answer 6

Many websites make use of a hidden iframe to do this, simply refresh the iframe with the new URL, which adds it to the browsing history. Then all you have to do is handle how your application reacts to those 'back button' events - you'll either need to detect the state/location of the iframe, or refresh the page using that URL.