ArticleZip > Backbone Routes Without Hashes

Backbone Routes Without Hashes

Backbone.js is a popular JavaScript framework used for building single-page web applications. One crucial aspect of routing in Backbone.js is managing URLs without the use of hashes. By understanding how to implement Backbone routes without hashes, you can enhance the user experience of your web application and make the URLs more user-friendly.

When you create routes in Backbone.js, by default, they include the hash symbol (#) in the URL. This is known as hash routing and has been used traditionally to handle client-side routing in single-page applications. However, with the advancement of web technologies and the push towards cleaner URLs, the hash symbol in URLs is often seen as outdated and not SEO-friendly.

Thankfully, Backbone.js provides a way to enable routing without hashes by utilizing the `pushState` method provided by modern browsers. By doing this, you can achieve cleaner URLs that look more like traditional URLs and are easier to read and share.

To enable hash-less routing in Backbone.js, you need to set the `pushState` option to true when initializing the Backbone router. This tells Backbone to use the HTML5 History API instead of hash-based URLs. Here's how you can do it:

Javascript

var Router = Backbone.Router.extend({
  routes: {
    '': 'home'
  },
  initialize: function() {
    Backbone.history.start({ pushState: true });
  },
  home: function() {
    console.log('You are at the home page!');
  }
});

var appRouter = new Router();

In the above example, we have defined a simple Backbone router with a single route for the home page. The key part is in the `initialize` function where we call `Backbone.history.start({ pushState: true })` to enable pushState routing.

One important thing to note when using pushState for routing in Backbone.js is that it requires server-side configuration to handle URL changes properly. You need to make sure that the server is set up to serve the correct content for the different URLs within your Backbone application.

Additionally, when implementing pushState routing, you should be aware of browser compatibility. While pushState is supported in most modern browsers, older browsers might not fully support it. In such cases, you should provide fallback mechanisms or gracefully degrade the user experience.

In conclusion, implementing Backbone routes without hashes can improve the URLs of your single-page web application and make them more user-friendly. By utilizing pushState in Backbone.js, you can create cleaner and SEO-friendly URLs that enhance the overall user experience. Just remember to configure your server correctly and consider browser compatibility when using pushState for routing in Backbone.js.

So, go ahead and level up your routing game in Backbone.js by ditching the hashes and embracing pushState for a more modern and user-friendly web experience.

Related posts:

×