How to get the browser to navigate to URL in JavaScript

Question

What is the best (correct, modern, cross-browser, safe) way to get a web browser to navigate to a URL of your choice using JavaScript?

Not a duplicate, but related. The other question doesn't have this concise answer that clarified the solution to my problem. — Jesse, Jan 28 '21 at 08:29

score 1897 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 04 '09 at 10:19

1897

This works in all browsers:

window.location.href = '...';

If you wanted to change the page without it reflecting in the browser back history, you can do:

window.location.replace('...');

answered Aug 04 '09 at 10:19

Paolo Bergantino

47

Using `window.location = '...'` is a synonym of `window.location.href = '...'` - from [Window.location API](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Window/location). – Oliver Mar 30 '16 at 09:09
4

If you want to avoid reloading the whole page (though that would not technically be considered a navigation), look into history.pushState and history.replaceState. – masterxilo May 06 '16 at 00:11
3

If you want to simulate clicking on a link, use `location.href` If you want to simulate an HTTP redirect, use `location.replace` Note that `location.replace` does not keep the originating page in the session history. – Agnel Vishal Aug 23 '19 at 13:09
3

you should also mention `window.location.assign('...')`, which is functionally equivalent to `window.location.href = '...'`. – Ben Wheeler Oct 18 '19 at 17:12

score 144 · Answer 2 · edited May 11 '16 at 11:40

144

Try these:

edited May 11 '16 at 11:40

Ethan

answered Dec 05 '13 at 04:03

tilak

107

This answer would be more helpful if it explained the difference between the three. Also, please refer to 'Provide context for links' at http://stackoverflow.com/help/how-to-answer, because the link doesn't provide any more info, either. – Michael Scheper Oct 01 '15 at 01:14
If you are using TestCafe with Node.js then you could also do: `await t.navigateTo('http://www.google.com');` – Seth Eden Nov 08 '17 at 14:56
`location.assign` worked in my case, thank you :) – vintprox Oct 03 '19 at 07:02
is there a way to wait for the page to full load after any of these or similar calls? e.g. if I run this in Chrome Console, only last page (google) ever truly loads window.location.href = 'http://www.google.com'; window.location.assign("http://www.w3schools.com"); window.location = 'http://www.google.com'; – Joe Jan 04 '20 at 07:59
`document.location = "..."; document.location.href ="..." ; document.location.assign("..."); document.location.replace("....");` can also be used. – Javad-M Jun 19 '23 at 19:43

score 63 · Answer 3 · edited Dec 17 '21 at 17:32

63

It seems that this is the correct way window.location.assign("http://www.mozilla.org");

edited Dec 17 '21 at 17:32

drac_o

answered Feb 17 '15 at 19:44

Bogdan

28

Good documentation but it says that the assign function doesn't save the current address in the history and thats something to consider. There is no correct or incorrect way, depends on the programmer's needs – Or Betzalel Jun 01 '15 at 09:45
4

@OrBetzalel, I believe the assign function DOES save the current address in the browser's history (though of course that could vary across browsers). See discussion at https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Location, where it explains that `window.location.replace()` does NOT save the current address in history, but makes no such mention of `window.location.assign()`. In my own testing with Chrome (current Mac version as of Oct 2019), `window.location.assign()` DOES save the current address in the browser's history. – Ben Wheeler Oct 18 '19 at 17:11
In my own testing with Chrome (current Mac version as of April 2023), window.location.assign() DOES NOT save the current address in the browser's history. – ahuigo Apr 04 '23 at 14:05

3 Answers3