What does "javascript:void(0)" mean?

javascript void
omg picture omg · Aug 18, 2009 · Viewed 2M times · Source 
<a href="javascript:void(0)" id="loginlink">login</a>

I've seen such hrefs many times, but I don't know what exactly that means.

Answer

rahul picture rahul · Aug 18, 2009

The void operator evaluates the given expression and then returns undefined.

The void operator is often used merely to obtain the undefined primitive value, usually using “void(0)” (which is equivalent to “void 0”). In these cases, the global variable undefined can be used instead (assuming it has not been assigned to a non-default value).

An explanation is provided here: void operator.

The reason you’d want to do this with the href of a link is that normally, a javascript: URL will redirect the browser to a plain text version of the result of evaluating that JavaScript. But if the result is undefined, then the browser stays on the same page. void(0) is just a short and simple script that evaluates to undefined.

Related questions

What is the point of void operator in JavaScript?

I've seen some people using void operator in their code. I have also seen this in href attributes: javascript:void(0) which doesn't seem any better than javascript:; So, what is the justification of using the void operator?

Read More
JavaScript `undefined` vs `void 0`

What exactly is the difference between undefined and void 0 ? Which is preferred and why?

Read More
How can I remove a specific item from an array?

I have an array of numbers and I'm using the .push() method to add elements to it. Is there a simple way to remove a specific element from an array? I'm looking for the equivalent of something like: array.remove(…

Read More