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Just use a button

(gomakethings.com)
284 points moebrowne | 1 comments | 31 Oct 25 16:59 UTC | HN request time: 0.23s | source
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lyricaljoke ◴[31 Oct 25 18:27 UTC] No.45775130[source]▶
My very similar pet peeve is about websites that use `onclick` handlers and similar to implement navigation. Just use a damn anchor tag, which gets you correct link behavior for free:

* works with middle click for new tab

* integrates with accessibility devices

* works with right click + open in new window or similar options

* etc. etc. etc.

If it's notionally navigation, don't use javascript soup: use a link.

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Zak ◴[31 Oct 25 19:26 UTC] No.45775742[source]▶
I've seen an increase in people doing this sort of thing over the past few years. I imagine it has something to do with frameworks and ignorance or apathy, but the old fashioned way almost always provides the best UX.

To anyone reading who has tried to get fancy with a substitute for the <a> tag, I wish you mild discomfort and inconvenience.

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philistine ◴[31 Oct 25 19:50 UTC] No.45775993[source]▶
Could it be that the devs who write that code are not allowed to touch the CSS so they implement the visual functionality they want in their framework instead of telling the design team their intent?
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1. Zak ◴[31 Oct 25 20:06 UTC] No.45776135[source]▶
There could be any number of weird constraints that would lead a developer who knows better to do such a thing in a specific situation, but someone designed (or failed to intentionally design) the system in question.

That person should sit alone in a room with no distractions and think about what they did.