Is there an alternative method to use onbeforeunload in mobile safari?

Question

Is there an alternative method to use instead of onbeforeunload in mobile-safari? I've noticed that Google was able to capture the onbeforeunload event in mobile-safari. Has anyone figured out how they are doing so?

Google was able to do so using their gmail client. Create a new message... type something in the text area... hit the browser back button. It pops up a warning message. I used an iPad to do my test.

Janettjanetta

there is both onunload and onbeforeunload Can you clarify what exactly you're trying to accomplish? – Sisneros

Mobile safari doesn't seem to have onbeforeunload. As for how google is simulating it in gmail, they seem to use an onunload confirm trick with iframes.. See danny armstrong's answer here: #3240334 I think the page may actually unload when you hit the back button, and the previous gmail page seamlessly picks up from there. Try copying a reply-to URL in gmail, go to an unrelated domain, go to the copied URL, type something in the message, and then try to go back.. the confirm doesn't launch! – Collie

See also window.onbeforeunload not working on the iPad? – Orangeism

Perhaps not what you're looking for, but FYI, I have a suggestion for how to reliably detect beforeunload support – Orangeism

Answer 1

I would guess that they are using the History API. By listening to popstate

window.addEventListener("popstate", function(e) { ... });

you can show a warning before allowing doing anything stupid.

Disclosure

Hi - this doens't seem to work : window.addEventListener("popstate", function(e) { alert("hi")}); does nothign on an ipad. I see this answer is 5 years ago (!) though ! – Hootchykootchy

Answer 2

Use pagehide event (reference)

Longspur

pagehide doens't allow you to add a confirmation popup which was what the orignal quesiton was about (sorry!) – Hootchykootchy

Read the question before you downvote: "Is there an alternative method to use instead of onbeforeunload in mobile-safari?". the dialog was just an example to test it. – Longspur