--- title: "Tip: Avoid \"javascript:void(0)\" for empty links" type: tip tags: javascript,browser,accessibility authors: chalarangelo cover: blog_images/white-flower.jpg excerpt: There are various ways to create an empty link, but some options are more appropriate than others. Learn the best way to handle empty links with this quick tip. --- There are various ways to create an empty link, but some options are more appropriate than others. One of the most common debates about it is if one should use `href=""`, `href="#"` or `href="javascript:void(0)"`. Generally, you want to avoid `href="javascript:void(0)"`, as it will cause the browser to parse the value of the link URL, which is both costly and unnecessary. It also introduces a potential XSS security vulnerability, as `javascript:` URLs violate Content Security Policy (CSP). With that out of the way, it's clear that `href=""` or `href="#"` should be preferred in most cases. One key difference between the two is that `href="#"` points to the top of the page whereas `href=""` points to the current page. This can have unwanted side-effects, such as scrolling to the top of the page or issues with link styling respectively. To prevent either one of them from acting as links, you can use `Event.preventDefault()` and handle them appropriately using JavaScript. Finally, when creating an empty link, one should always consider more semantically appropriate alternatives, such as a `