Why Isn't My JavaScript Function Triggered When I Click a Link?

JavaScript Function Not Triggered on Link Click

Issue

In an HTML page, a link in the sidebar navigation is intended to update the src attribute of an iFrame containing content. Despite using the correct code, the JavaScript function is not executing when the link is clicked.

Error

Forgetting to invoke the JavaScript function by adding parentheses is the primary cause of the issue. Additionally, there are several recommended practices to follow:

Best Practices

1. Avoid inline HTML event attributes (onclick, onmouseover, etc.):

   • Creates spaghetti code with poor readability and debugging capabilities.
   • Leads to code duplication and reduced scalability.
   • Violates the separation of concerns development principle.
   • Interferes with the this binding in callback functions.

2. Use event listeners (addEventListener()):

   • Allows for concise and efficient event handling.
   • Separates HTML and JavaScript, promoting code readability and maintainability.
   • Provides an effective way to handle events for multiple elements.

3. Disable hyperlink navigation when using a link for event handling:

   • Set the href attribute to # instead of "" to prevent the browser's default navigation behavior.

Revised Code

<button></button>

// Add parentheses to invoke the function on link click
function getContent() {
  iFrame.src = "LoremIpsum.html";
  console.log("Source updated!");
}

// Set up event listener for the button
btn.addEventListener("click", getContent);

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