Detecting src/location change in a iframe object

Question

I have an iframe object pointing to a specific page. For example,

<iframe src="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random"></iframe>

I want to have an alert whenever the location of the iframe changes because the user has clicked a link inside it.

Doing onLoad="alert(this.ContentWindow.location.href);" yields nothing.

Doing onLoad="alert(this.src);" yields the initial src (../wiki/Special:Random) no matter what the user has clicked.

The user will stay within the same domain, so the Same Origin policy is not violated.

Probably a typo, but your `iframe` tag isn't properly formed. — Asad Saeeduddin, Aug 12 '13 at 20:06
The iframe src says `http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random`, yet you say the user will stay within the same domain. Are you sure this isn't a SOP issue? — Asad Saeeduddin, Aug 12 '13 at 20:08
`onLoad="alert(this.src);"` seems to work fine for me: http://jsfiddle.net/cFxgZ/. — Felix Kling, Aug 12 '13 at 20:12
@FelixKling I believe OP wanted detect location change when link is clicked inside of Iframe document and not set directly via src — Yuriy Galanter, Aug 12 '13 at 20:19
Sounds like the solution detailed [in this very similar StackOverflow question](http://stackoverflow.com/a/36040615/26510) might work for you — Brad Parks, Mar 30 '17 at 01:01

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 12 '13 at 20:16

5

Use correct case in "ContentWindow", it's supposed to be "contentWindow".

<iframe src="your initial URL" onload="alert(this.contentWindow.location.href)" />

works.

answered Aug 12 '13 at 20:16

Yuriy Galanter

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you cannot access the `contentWindow.location` of a website that is not within the same domain or protocol of the parent window. specially on google chrome. – Hashem Qolami Aug 12 '13 at 20:48
@HashemQolami quoting OP: *The user will stay within the same domain, so the Same Origin policy is not violated.* – Yuriy Galanter Aug 12 '13 at 20:51
Since the `src` attribute points to `http://en.wikipedia.org`, the `iframe` MUST be in en.wikipedia.org to get to work. BTW, If `user will stay within the same domain`, this should work. – Hashem Qolami Aug 12 '13 at 20:56
2

@HashemQolami I can only assume that the URL shown was a random example or that OP works for Wikipedia :) – Yuriy Galanter Aug 12 '13 at 21:01
You wish :) It was definitely a random example. – carriwitchet Aug 12 '13 at 21:08
@KarthikaPai So, `mydomain.com` would be a better example ;) – Hashem Qolami Aug 12 '13 at 21:09
Oooh, I definitely get an alert but it says "undefined". – carriwitchet Aug 12 '13 at 21:25
What browser are you using? Are you sure you're not making cross domain calls (try it in IE for example, you will get Permission denied if you are). Are u using relative or absolute URL for initial SRC? Here is a working fiddle http://jsfiddle.net/gXBLD/1/ try selectinng "Reset password" link there – Yuriy Galanter Aug 12 '13 at 21:42
I am using Chrome. My code is – carriwitchet Aug 12 '13 at 22:01
Can you post real URL of the page hosting the IFRAME and URL used as SRC? Or, if not just replace domain with something else – Yuriy Galanter Aug 12 '13 at 22:09
Mmm ,I thought I posted it. h t t p : / / en.wikipedia.org – carriwitchet Aug 12 '13 at 22:11
And I'm running this on my localhost server (Ruby on Rails app) – carriwitchet Aug 12 '13 at 22:14
I thought it was a random example no? So you're saying both parent page and iframe src have main Wikipedia page as URLs? – Yuriy Galanter Aug 12 '13 at 22:15
If your parent page is localhost and I frame is Wikipedia - it is a cross domain call and it won't work. – Yuriy Galanter Aug 12 '13 at 22:18
@KarthikaPai for postMessage to work someone has to receive the message and you do not control the inner pages. AFAIK there's no workaround due to security reasons – Yuriy Galanter Aug 13 '13 at 13:36

Detecting src/location change in a iframe object

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