Ask HN: How common are websites that block all content if JavaScript is disabled

  • About one in thirty (ish) - relatively rare, but still too many [1].

    I can speak with some confidence as I browse almost exclusively without js. If a site needs it, I just move on [2].

    Most sites still render a lot (sometimes revealing more) of their content perfectly without it.

    As other HN commentators have noted, there's a strong negative correlation between sites that are js heavy and quality. Very little of value is lost by avoiding them.

    [1] Too many because it seems a those that don't work without js also break legally required accessibility standards and are mainly from bigger entities who should behave better.

    [2] About the only thing I can't seem to do on HN as a text-only reader is up/down vote other posters. That's also a feature.

  • It's usually those fancy sites with lagging animation and absurdly large text. They don't know server-side rendering and their entire front page is a React component.

    As of how many... feels like 1 in 20.

  • I work on a subscription product that uses React and doesn't show anything if you have no Javascript... Not because there is any blocking but because it fundamentally depends on it.