Dumb question about <a> and onclick

JavaScript
1

I have a dumb js question that has bothered me for quite some time but i never took the time to look into…

if I have a link (<a> tag) that I am just using to trigger a javascript action, I usually will say

<a href=“#” onClick=“some_js_code”>link text</a>

when i view the page and click this link, it jumps me to the top of the page which is annoying if the javascript i am triggering is something that triggers an animation at the current location (jquery slideDown or something)

I have gotten around this before with something liek this:
<a name=“someName”></a>
<a href=“#someName” onClick=“some_js_code”>link text</a>

but there has to be a better way… is there something else I can put in the href attribute to avoid this jumping to the top of the page?

2

add return false to the end of the JavaScript to disable the href.

of course that still leaves the 10% of people without JavaScript with a link that does nothing so you might consider having the link actually go somewhere that provides an equivalent option for them.

3

so then:
<a href=“#” onClick=“some_js_code; return false;”>link text</a>

is that about right?

4

Yes. That will revent the href running for those with javaScript enabled.

5

looks like it worked like a champ - thanks!!