Removing the fragment identifier from AngularJS urls (# symbol)

📝 Removing the Fragment Identifier from AngularJS URLs: Say Goodbye to the # Symbol!

Have you ever wondered if it's possible to remove the annoying "#" symbol from AngularJS URLs? 🤔 Well, you're not alone! Many developers have found that while they still need to use the browser's back button and update the URL with parameters, they simply don't want that pesky "#" hanging around.

So, let's dive in and discover some easy solutions that will allow you to maintain the same functionality without the # symbol. 💪

🔧 Solution 1: Using HTML5 Mode

The first solution involves enabling HTML5 mode in AngularJS. This mode uses the HTML5 History API, allowing you to manipulate the browser's URL without the need for a fragment identifier.

To enable HTML5 mode, you need to make a small tweak to your application's routing configuration. In your app's main module configuration, follow these steps:

Step 1: Inject the $locationProvider into your module's configuration function.

angular.module('phonecat', [])
  .config(['$routeProvider', '$locationProvider', function($routeProvider, $locationProvider) {
    // ...
  }]);

Step 2: Add the following code inside your module's configuration function to enable HTML5 mode.

$locationProvider.html5Mode(true);

Step 3: Update your server configuration to handle requests correctly. For example, in a Node.js/Express server:

app.get('*', function(req, res) {
  res.sendFile(path.join(__dirname + '/index.html'));
});

And that's it! 😃 Now, when you navigate to your AngularJS application, you'll notice that the URLs no longer include the dreaded # symbol. Just keep in mind that you'll need to configure your server correctly to handle all the URL requests.

🔧 Solution 2: Using Angular UI Router

If you're using Angular UI Router instead of the built-in ngRoute module, you have another powerful tool at your disposal. Angular UI Router provides advanced routing capabilities and supports HTML5 mode by default.

To start using Angular UI Router and get rid of the # symbol, follow these steps:

Step 1: Include the angular-ui-router script in your HTML file.

<script src="path/to/angular-ui-router.js"></script>

Step 2: Inject the ui.router module into your application.

angular.module('phonecat', ['ui.router'])
  .config(['$stateProvider', '$urlRouterProvider', function($stateProvider, $urlRouterProvider) {
    // ...
  }]);

Step 3: Configure your states using $stateProvider instead of $routeProvider. This allows you to define nested states and take advantage of the additional features provided by Angular UI Router.

$stateProvider
  .state('phones', {
    url: '/phones',
    templateUrl: 'partials/phone-list.html',
    controller: 'PhoneListCtrl'
  })
  .state('phoneDetail', {
    url: '/phones/:phoneId',
    templateUrl: 'partials/phone-detail.html',
    controller: 'PhoneDetailCtrl'
  });

$urlRouterProvider.otherwise('/phones');

And now, voilà! 🎉 Your AngularJS URLs are free from the shackles of the # symbol, and you can navigate through your application without that annoying extra character.

✨ Time to Take Action!

Now that you have learned how to remove the fragment identifier from AngularJS URLs, why not implement it in your own project? Say goodbye to the "#" symbol and enhance the user experience of your application.

Have you already tried one of these solutions? Or maybe you have another cool way to tackle this problem? Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions in the comments below! Let's discuss and help each other create better AngularJS applications. 👥💬

Happy coding! 💻✨