JavaScript Program to Get The Current URL

Introduction

The ability to retrieve the current URL in JavaScript is a ubiquitous requirement in modern web development, ranging from redirect functionalities to dynamic content loading. Accessing the URL allows developers to extract specific parameters, paths, or query strings, which can influence the behavior of web applications.

In this article, you will learn how to use JavaScript to get the current URL in various forms. The discussions include obtaining the full URL, separate components like the protocol, hostname, and path, and how to work with URL query parameters effectively.

Retrieving the Full URL

Get the Complete URL of the Current Page

1. Access the window.location.href property to retrieve the entire URL of the current page.

   javascript Copy

   let currentUrl = window.location.href;
   console.log(currentUrl);
   

   This code snippet will display the complete URL of the current page in the console. The window.location.href contains all parts of the URL including protocol, hostname, port (if specified), pathname, query string, and hash.

Extracting URL Components

Access Protocol, Host, and Pathname

1. Use properties of window.location to get individual URL components such as protocol, host, and pathname.

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   let protocol = window.location.protocol;
   let host = window.location.host;
   let pathname = window.location.pathname;
   
   console.log(`Protocol: ${protocol}`);
   console.log(`Host: ${host}`);
   console.log(`Pathname: ${pathname}`);
   

   Here, protocol will show the protocol used (e.g., http: or https:), host provides the hostname and port (if present), and pathname displays the path component of the URL.

Extracting the Query String

1. Retrieve the query string from the URL using window.location.search.

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   let queryString = window.location.search;
   console.log(queryString);
   

   This line fetches the query string part of the URL, which starts with ? and consists of key-value pairs. It's particularly useful for accessing data passed as parameters in GET requests.

Working with Query Parameters

Parse Query Parameters into an Object

1. Create a function to convert the query string into a more accessible object format.

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   function getQueryParams(queryString) {
       let params = new URLSearchParams(queryString);
       let obj = {};
       params.forEach((value, key) => {
           obj[key] = value;
       });
       return obj;
   }
   
   let queryParams = getQueryParams(window.location.search);
   console.log(queryParams);
   

   This function uses URLSearchParams, a built-in web API for working with the query string, to parse it and convert the parameters into a JavaScript object. It provides an easy way of accessing parameter values using keys.

Conclusion

Retrieving and manipulating the URL and its components in JavaScript is straightforward yet powerful for controlling the flow and functionality of web applications. Understanding how to access the full URL, decompose it into its basic components, and manipulate query strings enables precise control over content and user experience based on URL parameters. By applying the techniques discussed, you ensure your applications can dynamically respond to changes in URL and extract necessary data efficiently.