Record the link you clicked to leave my page

[aso186]

Excellent points Spinal.

I still can't help but feel server-side might be more suited for the task, simply because users without JavaScript support (as already mentioned) would be undetected in the statistics.

Having said that, I stumbled upon a FF add-on the other day that removes redirect links within web pages, so the user can click straight-through, 'undetected' by the redirect script.

What I'm sure we agree on is whicher you use, will bring it's own advantages and disadvantages

[spinal007]

Originally Posted by aso186

I still can't help but feel server-side might be more suited for the task

Server-side script is absolutely necessary - or else how would you store the information? We're on the same page, let me break it down and you might see what I mean...

a) we start with <a href="URL">Link Text</a>
b) javascript finds links on pages and modifies them so that link counting can take place

'link counting' can take place in several methods...
c1) modify the href attribute to pass through a server-side script that will then redirect the user. Example: href="redirect.php?URL" where redirect.php records the hit in a database THEN redirects the user

c2) don't modify the href attribute, but use an image or HTTPRequest (ajax) to call a server-side script that will do the counting. eg.: make a call to "click.php?URL" where click.php records the click in a database - redirecting the user is not required because this request happens simultaneously (alongside) the natural link.

c1 is ok, but if the server-side script fails (eg.: failed db connection) and error trapping has not been properly implemented, the user may not be taken to URL.

c2 is the most user friendly because:
1. if javascript fails, the user is still taken to URL
2. if the server-side script fails, the user is still taken to URL even if an unexpected server0side error occurs

I think this could be turned into a little article to help newbies understand the whole process. What do you think?

[aso186]

Ok, I see where you're getting at now! A little article would be rather useful