JavaScript window.close Won't Close the Window

I learned something new today.

In JavaScript within the web browser, window.close will not close the window if it was not opened using window.open or is a top-level window (or tab) with at one history entry. That is what the documentation of window.close says.

It got in the way.

I was adding a page endpoint that I would link to. The link would open the page in a new tab with target="_blank". And it would call window.print and window.close back to back.

The intent was so that the page loads, shows the print dialog, and closes after the user confirms or cancels the print dialog.

The solution was to use the onclick attribute with window.open in the link:

<a href="javascript:;" onclick="window.open('/_/contests/{{.Contest.ID}}/participants/credential_slips#intent=print')">Print Slips</a>

Instead of href:

<a href="/_/contests/{{.Contest.ID}}/participants/credential_slips#intent=print">Print Slips</a>

Well, at least there was a solution to this.

And, window.open reminded me of the time when Internal Explorer was a thing and had the largest share in the web browser market. Back then, pop-ups were a plague, and you needed pop-up blockers if you wanted to do anything on the Internet other than check your emails. Eek!

This post is 84th of my #100DaysToOffload challenge. Want to get involved? Find out more at 100daystooffload.com.