What is the new #_ appended to Wikipedia's URLs? Why?

Question

Wikipedia's URLs recently started adding #_ (appended or embedded) to the mobile version of the website.

What does this mean?
Why did Wikipedia start using this new convention?

I knew about shebang/hashbang (#!) but I am not sure I understand the purpose of Wikipedia's new #_.

Is this also related to AJAX?
How does it work?

BTW, typing the URL into the browser's address without the #_, results in auto-redirect to the #_-appended URL, which results in significant performance hit on my browser. There must be a good reason to use this new #_ scheme. I just don't know (yet) what it is.

Could you describe how exactly does that happen to you? I don't see anything like that. — svick, May 07 '12 at 11:06
@svick Sure. Type http://m.wikipedia.org in your browser (even a desktop one, doesn't have to be mobile). — Eternal Learner, May 07 '12 at 11:16

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered May 07 '12 at 12:04

3

It's just a dummy value used as a kluge. The code that sets it was introduced on May 1 in a commit titled "fix jump to top", with the following commit message:

"currently clicking on the jump to top link has no effect. This is because opening a section sets the hash to the same as the jump to top link. By resetting it first we can get back the behaviour we want"

If it's really causing a performance issue in your browser, you should probably report it as a bug in MediaWiki. Actually, you should probably report it as a bug in your browser too.

answered May 07 '12 at 12:04

Ilmari Karonen

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Thanks for solving the mystery. Any idea why a [kluge](http://www.learnthat.com/define/view.asp?id=7636) and not a more thoughtful and long term solution? – Eternal Learner May 07 '12 at 12:11
Probably because it was broken and needed to be fixed quickly? – Ilmari Karonen May 07 '12 at 12:13

What is the new #_ appended to Wikipedia's URLs? Why?

1 Answers1