Autorefresh

Autorefresh is a mechanism that automatically reloads or updates the content of a web page or application after a fixed interval without user action. It can be implemented on the client side or requested from the server, and is used to keep information current or to refresh dynamic content.

Common methods include the HTML meta refresh tag, such as a tag that instructs the browser to reload the page after a specified number of seconds; the Refresh HTTP header used to trigger a reload after a delay; and JavaScript routines that periodically reload the page or update specific parts of the page via asynchronous requests. Modern web applications often achieve automatic updating by fetching new data at intervals or by maintaining a live connection through technologies such as WebSockets or server-sent events.

Typical use cases encompass dashboards that display real-time metrics, news sites that refresh headlines, stock quotes, weather updates, sports scores, and other feeds where timely information is important. Autorefresh can improve visibility of current data but may also interfere with a user’s activity, cause navigation disruptions, or waste bandwidth if content is unchanged.

Accessibility and search engine considerations are important. Automatic refresh can be disruptive to screen readers or form inputs and can complicate browsing. For SEO, meta refresh is sometimes treated as a redirect rather than a normal navigation. Best practices include allowing users to disable auto-refresh, preferring partial updates over full page reloads, and considering alternatives such as server-sent events or WebSockets for real-time updates.