AJAX and browser history/bookmarking

[B33R]

In case you don't know AJAX works from a single web page, and because the browser doesn't think a new page is opened it doesn't record the history or allow for bookmarking anything other than that first page.

Going back, forward or attempting to return to an AJAX site results in the first page being reloaded because the browser doesn't believe it's left that page. It's the same with Flash as well.

There's various workarounds including iframes and using fake hashes (#) at the end of URLs to trick the browser into thinking the page has changed.
To me it seems to be essential to a good website experience, after all who doesn't use the back or forward button and expect it to go back or forward?

Has anyone considered this when designing a site with AJAX? Which method have you used?

 

[Dan]

I don't make the entire site in AJAX; only little parts that make it better.

ew@iframes

 

[mikesherov]

Yes, in my experience, AJAX is to be used when necessary... not just because it would be cool.

When designing, I ask myself if I'm doing a web-app or a web-page.

The former calls for XHTML, the latter calls for AJAX,

 

[B33R]

I was hoping to make something different because I'm getting bored with the static, dull sites that seem to be the norm now.

I just feel like making something different, something that few other people are doing and that would capture the imagination of both me and my viewers.

AJAX has too many negatives.
The browser history and bookmarking effectively being broken as well as search engines not being able to index any deeper than the first page on an AJAX site as well as having to use old methods to ensure the new stuff works - like iframes or a hash on every AJAX change just to record the history for back and forward browsing.

There's gotta be new ways forward out there, maybe AJAX is it but browsers and search engines just aren't ready for it.

I'll probably end up making a site that just uses some AJAX but I think that'll make my site just as dull and boring as every other one out there. I guess I'll have to think of other ideas to make it fun and interesting, both for me when I'm making it and for others when they're viewing it.

Thanks for your input!

 

[jpm6917]

I don't make the entire site in AJAX; only little parts that make it better.

ew@iframes

Me too

 

[thedeamone]

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