As a young web developer, I often wondered what the best way to fire events was (for example, to make a link display new content on the page, without reloading). I considered using HTML elements as event handlers, by changing a property when firing an event—but this just seemed too in the way. I needed something out of the way of my HTML.

I then looked at my URL bar, sitting there lonely and unused, and an idea came to me. I would simply add two URL parameters, one named event and one named data! It was perfect!

Or so I thought. Adding URL parameters reloads the page, so this wouldn't work either. But I still thought the URL was the best way to go, and reminded myself of hashes.

For those who don't know, adding hashes to a URL does not reload the page.

I have used this technique ever since then, and it is undoubtedly my favorite. I don't believe this is a usual technique. All I know is that it suits my needs.

window.addEventListener("hashchange", function(hash) {
  if (hash === "#profile-19289948") {
    ...
  }
});

Now I'm curious—do other people do something similar? Do other people even know what I'm talking about?