Preferred method to reload page with JavaScript?

Question

which way to reload a current page (using a button) would you prefer?

1 <input type="button" value="Reload" onClick="history.go(0)">
2 <input type="button" value="Reload" onClick="location.reload(true)">
3 <input type="button" value="Reload" onClick="window.location.reload(true)">
4 <input type="button" value="Reload" onClick="window.location.href=window.location.href">
5 <input type="button" value="Reload" onClick="document.location.reload(true)">
6 <input type="button" value="Reload" onClick="document.location.href=document.location.href">

As the URL of the page changes frequently AFAIK a 'fallback function' like

<a href="urlOfCurrentPage.html" onclick="window.location.reload(true);return false;">Reload</a>

won't work for me, right?

Number 4 and 6 will not reload anything if there is a # present in the url — jontro, Aug 07 '12 at 12:31
Number 2, 3 & 5 aren't implemented by all browsers, use `*.location.reload()` as the argument is only used to specify if the cache should be ignored. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10876244/browser-support-for-window-location-reloadtrue — Dead.Rabit, Oct 25 '13 at 11:39
OP missed the most preferred method of all: location.reload(); — Doug S, Sep 30 '15 at 06:45

score 56 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 12 '10 at 17:59

56

Depends on what you want to do. The fourth and sixth methods there won't reload any form data, they essentially make a separate visit to the page. Some versions of Firefox also have issues with the third method. Other than that, I'd go with the fifth as a personal preference. It seems the clearest.

answered Apr 12 '10 at 17:59

tloflin

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The second method (.reload) is not work in some cases. – Aristos Apr 12 '10 at 18:02
so, "document.location.reload(true)" is cross-browser secure and the most robust one? – Mel Apr 12 '10 at 18:12
@Mel, I believe so. Really, window and document should both work. – tloflin Apr 12 '10 at 18:24
10

note that when you use document.location.reload() on a POST the browser will ask you if you want resend the data to reload the page. – wimh May 01 '10 at 15:30
Wimmel, yes to fix that use the PRG pattern: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post/Redirect/Get – Sarel Botha Jul 26 '13 at 13:48

score 30 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 07 '11 at 16:27

You may also do:

wd represents window || document:

wd.location.assign(wd.location.href) : go to the URL
wd.location.replace(wd.location.href) : go to the URL and replace previous page in history
wd.location.reload(<true/false/blank>) : reload page from server/cache/cache

Preferred method to reload page with JavaScript?

2 Answers2

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