hash routing

Hash-based Routing

A web routing technique where the part of the URL after the # symbol controls which view is shown. Because browsers never send the hash to the server, hash routes are handled entirely client-side.

When you'd see it: Single Page Applications hosted on static-only platforms — older SPAs and tools deployed to GitHub Pages or similar. URLs like example.com/#guides/financial-literacy. Modern apps often prefer real path routing once hosting supports it.

Why it matters: Hash routing is the simplest way to make a single static HTML file feel like a multi-page app without server-side configuration. Every route works without server changes — useful for static-only hosts.

Common mistakes: Treating hash routes the same as real paths for SEO. Search engines can index hash routes, but support has historically been worse than for real paths. For content-heavy sites where SEO matters, real-path setups are usually preferable.

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