getAttribute("HREF") is always absolute

In some browsers getAttribute("HREF") on an A element returns a complete URL, even if the HREF attribute in the source specified a relative path. In others it returns the exact text of the attribute in the source, which may be relative.

All browsers put the complete, resolved, URL for an A element in its .href property. In Explorer (Win and Mac) and Opera 8 the same value is returned by getAttribute("HREF"), while Mozilla (FF1.0), Safari and Konqueror (3.2.2) return the source value. I consider the latter behaviour to be correct.

The test case contains two links, the first absolute and the second relative, and reports the values of .href and getAttribute("HREF") for each. It is the last reported value that differs.

Test page Workaround is not included
Reported by: Phil Endecott.

Explorer 5-6 Windows, Explorer 7 beta 2, Explorer Mac, Opera | Reported on 25 February 2005.

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