Using onbeforeunload without dialog?

Question

I'm trying to post data when a user leaves my page. I have finally managed to find a working solution, however, it shows a confirmation dialog when the user leaves. I have tried return null; but it didn't work. Is it possible to disable the dialog?

window.onbeforeunload = function() {
    $.post("track.php", {
        async: false,
        refid: refid,
        country: country, 
        type: type,
    });

    return '';
}

Maybe there is a workaround, let me test it. I suppose your question is following this one: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/17169092/correct-way-to-use-onbeforeunload correct? — A. Wolff, Jun 19 '13 at 10:03
This one works, but only issue is it pops a dialog, ok ? There are different questions. — user198989, Jun 19 '13 at 10:06

score 50 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 14 '15 at 12:43

From the Mozilla Developer Network page:

When this event returns a non-void value, the user is prompted to confirm the page unload.

This means the return value of the handler must be undefined (not '', false, or null) in order to avoid triggering the confirmation prompt.

window.onbeforeunload = function() {

  $.post("track.php", {
  ...
  });

  return undefined;
}

In javascript you can skip the return value altogether to get the same result.

In coffeescript with jquery it's something like

$(document).ready ->
  $(window).bind('beforeunload', ->
    #put your cleanup code here
    undefined
  )

For information, the "beforeunload" event is not reliable for data manipulation. The primary goal was just to display an alert message before leaving the web page: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/9943220/how-to-delete-a-localstorage-item-when-the-browser-window-tab-is-closed/11530896#comment92256676_11530896 — baptx, Oct 05 '18 at 10:48

score 12 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 05 '17 at 09:43

12

If you want to disable the dialog, please only write

window.onbeforeunload = function() { ... return; }

instead of

window.onbeforeunload = function() { ... return ''; }.

I hope it will help you.

answered Apr 05 '17 at 09:43

Hay Thi

155
1
4

score 4 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 15 '20 at 09:38

4

Removing return statement worked for me also.

answered Apr 15 '20 at 09:38

menepet

796
13
17

A. Wolff · Answer 4 · 2013-12-12T17:14:52.677

2

Could you test this:

$(window).on('beforeunload', function (e) {
    if (e.originalEvent) $.post("track.php", {
        async: false,
        refid: refid,
        country: country,
        type: type,
    });
    else $.get("", {
        async: false
    });
    $(this).trigger('beforeunload');
}

This will create many useless requests but should let your first request enough time to reach server.

edited Dec 12 '13 at 17:14

answered Jun 19 '13 at 10:18

A. Wolff

74,033
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Thanks, I finally found the solution, the bind beforeunload should be bind onbeforeunload. – user198989 Jun 19 '13 at 10:20
you mean: $(window).bind('onbeforeunload',...) ??? Because using this shouldn't work at all. Anyway, if you got a correct workaround, please post it as answer. – A. Wolff Jun 19 '13 at 10:22
It works. I have tried on firefox, chrome and explorer. All worked. – user198989 Jun 19 '13 at 10:41

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Jun 19 '13 at 10:40

1

I have found a really simple trick to get this working with using

$(window).bind('onbeforeunload', function () {

$.post("track.php", {
async: false,
refid: refid,
country: country, 
type: type,
});

});

answered Jun 19 '13 at 10:40

user198989

4,574
19
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2

Ok, maybe you are using older version of jquery because now: <> – A. Wolff Jun 19 '13 at 10:46
I'm using the same approach put the post code won't trigger without return – Siim Nelis Feb 20 '14 at 09:38

score 1 · Answer 6 · answered Mar 05 '21 at 04:26

1

This is with react and typescript:

  useEffect(() => {
    window.onbeforeunload = (ev: any) => {
      ev.preventDefault()
      anotherMethod()
    }
  }, [])

answered Mar 05 '21 at 04:26

Sandip Subedi

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Using onbeforeunload without dialog?

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