Ajax Deep Linking through SWFAddress

The back, forward and bookmarking tools in browsers used to be unknown functions for JavaScript and Ajax based applications. This was often the complaint of users since they will be forced to rely on the online application just to go back to previous stages. Some argued that as an application these buttons on browsers are not needed but tradition and ease of interaction still suggests they are needed.

Developers heeded that call and added deep linking on their online applications. Even though the online application do not refresh the browser, users can still press the back, forward or even bookmark the webpage. While this technique has eased user's experience with online application, this has added hours to applications development.

For those who are struggling on deep linking in their online application, a library exists to deal with that problem. Named SWFAddress, this type of library is well known to assist developers in deep linking their online applications. Through this tool, a unique URL will be embedded on each webpage which can be used to bookmark or manipulate using back and forward buttons. The links created by SWFAddress could even be extracted by users.

SWFAddress can be easily integrated to any Ajax or JavaScript based application. However, the ability to deep link a webpage is not just applicable on one programming language. The library can also be embedded on Flash and Flex. The demo on the SWFAddress reveals that Flash will still have the same loading function.

Flex on the other hand, will provide the same experience compared to Ajax. There's even a tool for developers who wanted to use SEO while deep linking their application. The SEO enabling tool can be implemented in JavaScript, Flash and Flex.

Implementation in JavaScript deep linking is very straightforward when used with SWFAddress. In JavaScript, a link is created in the online application which could be directly accessed by the browser without refreshing the webpage. Although the browser will not make any complete changes on the webpage, it will still detect the new URL.

On the other hand, the implementation of SWFAddress on Flex is not based on URL creation. With Flex, developers will be provided with hash (#) in their application. Developers can customize the hash by adding a word or two as description of the link. This will be regarded as a unique URL by browsers which will enable them to bookmark and use the back and forward button.

The only downside of the SWFAddress is its size. At first glance the 39kb size of the library will not have any significant effect in the online application. But when this library is frequently used in unique webpages, there is a tendency that the deep linking function will slow down the webpage. For that reason, developers have to use the library to deep link on single online application with same URL instead of various applications. When limitation of use of the library is observed, developers will be assured of a smart and efficient deep linking.