Salesforce JavaScript Developer Practice Exam

Which event should a developer use to detect changes in browser history when using the History API?

1. navigate

2. pushstate

3. popstate

4. change

The correct answer is: popstate

The event that should be used to detect changes in browser history when utilizing the History API is the popstate event. This event is triggered whenever the active history entry changes, which happens when the user navigates to a new state within the application. When a developer uses the History API to manipulate the browser history (for instance, when invoking pushState or replaceState methods), the popstate event helps to identify when the user navigates back or forward through the history. This is particularly important in single-page applications (SPAs), where the content of the page may change dynamically without a complete refresh, and developers need to respond appropriately to such navigation actions. The other events or terms listed do not relate directly to detecting changes in browser history in this context. For example, 'navigate' is not a standard event related to the History API, while 'pushstate' refers to a method used to add entries to the history stack, not an event that detects state changes. 'Change' is typically not associated with history management. Thus, utilizing the popstate event is the most effective way to manage browser history changes.