How can I create an empty HTML anchor so the page doesn't "jump up" when I click it?

Question

I'm working on some JQuery to hide/show some content when I click a link. I can create something like:

<a href="#" onclick="jquery_stuff" />

But if I click that link while I'm scrolled down on a page, it will jump back up to the top of the page.

If I do something like:

<a href="" onclick="jquery_stuff" />

The page will reload, which rids the page of all the changes that javascript has made.

Something like this:

<a onclick="jquery_stuff" />

Will give me the desired effect, but it no longer shows up as a link. Is there some way to specify an empty anchor so I can assign a javascript handler to the onlick event, without changing anything on the page or moving the scrollbar?

Answer 1

Put a "return false;" on the second option:

<a href="" onclick="jquery_stuff; return false;" />

Answer 2

<a href="javascript:// some helpful comment " onclick="jquery_stuff" />

Answer 3

You need to return false; after the jquery_stuff:

<a href="no-javascript.html" onclick="jquery_stuff(); return false;" />

This will cancel the default action.

Answer 4

<a href="javascript:;" onclick="jquery">link</a>

href requires something in there if you want it to not pop up errors in validators for html. the javascript:; is a good place holder; If you really want to use the #

<a href="#me" name="me" onclick="jquery">link</a>

be careful with the return false; it halts default behaviours of whatever you are doing.

Also if your js is like a submit you may run into problems in internet explorer.

hope this helps

Answer 5

you can put simply as like below

<a href="javascript:;" onclick="jquery_stuff">

Answer 6

I usually use a <span> and style it to look like a link when I need to accomplish something like this.

Answer 7

I seem to have a similar problem but I have been unable to come to a solution. The test site is http://altuit.on-rev.com/cig-test - Is there a way to make the links on the left display the correct content in the center but not "jump" the page?

Answer 8

Usually I do:

<a style="cursor:pointer;" onclick="whatever();">Whatever</a>