If you've ever encountered an issue with IE11 not opening links created by `createObjectURL`, you're not alone. This problem can be frustrating, but fear not - there's a solution to help you navigate this challenge.
Internet Explorer 11, despite its age, is still used by many people globally. However, it lacks support for certain modern web technologies, including handling links generated by the `createObjectURL` method in JavaScript. This may lead to unexpected behavior when trying to open these links in IE11.
When you use `createObjectURL` to generate a URL for a blob (Binary Large OBject), IE11 might not be able to handle it properly. This can occur when you're working with media files, such as images or videos, in your web application and need to create temporary URLs for them.
To address this issue, you can employ a workaround by providing an alternative way for IE11 to open these links. One effective approach is to create a hidden anchor element (``) in your HTML code and set the `href` attribute to the URL generated by `createObjectURL`. This way, when users interact with the link, it will trigger the download or display action as intended.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to implement this workaround:
1. Create an anchor element in your HTML:
<a id="downloadLink"></a>2. Generate the object URL using `createObjectURL`:
const blob = new Blob(['Your file content here'], { type: 'application/pdf' });
const url = URL.createObjectURL(blob);3. Set the `href` attribute of the anchor element to the generated URL:
const downloadLink = document.getElementById('downloadLink');
downloadLink.href = url;4. Optionally, you can set the `download` attribute to specify the filename when the user downloads the file:
downloadLink.download = 'filename.pdf';5. Finally, trigger the click event on the anchor element to initiate the download or display action:
downloadLink.click();By following these steps, you can ensure that your web application functions correctly in IE11 when dealing with links created by `createObjectURL`. This workaround provides a seamless experience for users who access your site using Internet Explorer.
In conclusion, while IE11 may present challenges with certain web technologies, such as handling object URLs generated by `createObjectURL`, there are practical solutions available to overcome these obstacles. By implementing the suggested workaround, you can ensure compatibility and smooth functionality across different browsers, including Internet Explorer 11.