Chapter 4. Using Vaadin Navigation Capabilities

Historically, Rich Internet Applications (RIA) was suitable mostly for corporate applications deployed and used inside companies' intranets. Trend is changing and Vaadin is aware of that. No more "we can't use Vaadin because we are developing a website-like application". With Vaadin, developing website-like applications is a piece of cake. You can make rich web applications and still let your visitors use navigator's back and forward buttons and allow search engines to find and index your Vaadin applications.

In this chapter we will cover the following topics:

• Getting request information

• URL Path info, fragments and parameters

• VaadinService class

• Navigators and views

• Keeping state after refresh

• User session

• Menus

• Shortcut keys

We are ready to acquire some powerful skills to succeed as Vaadin web application developers. You don't want to miss this chapter!