Correct way to reference Javascript in ASP.NET MVC?

What is the correct way to reference Javascript in ASP.NET MVC? Using something like ../../Scripts/Myscript.js seems to work fine for routes that are the traditional {controller}/{action}/{id}, but are more fragile for anything more or less complex than that. Of greater concern is that the rational absolute reference (/Scripts/Myscript.js) breaks Intellisense in Visual Studio.

How do you handle it?

EDIT: This is obviously a very old question at this point, but I’m editing to mention that in MVC4, all you need is this:

src="~/Scripts/Whatever.js"

That’s enough for Razor to figure out where you mean, using the root path.

Answers:

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Method 1

<script src="<%= Url.Content("~/Scripts/Myscript.js") %>" type="text/javascript"></script>

Method 2

In case anyone else finds this answer that is using MVC Razor, here’s the syntax for that:

<script type="text/javascript" src="@Url.Content("/Scripts/MyScript.js")"></script>

Method 3

I also reference js the same way as CMerat:

<script type="text/javascript" src="<% =Url.Content("~/Scripts/jquery-1.3.2.min.js") %>"></script>

If you need Intellisense for jquery, you can find instructions on how to set it up here. As far as i know, you cant get Intellisense for any custom js file you reference – you will need to create the Intellisense file for it first.

Method 4

I myself use mvccontrib htmlhelpers for this at the moment.

This can be useful too.

Method 5

I’ve created my own HtmlHelper extensions that look like:

public static string MEScriptBlock(this HtmlHelper html, string path, string releasePath)
{
#if DEBUG
#else
    if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(releasePath))
        path = releasePath;
#endif

    return string.Format("<script type="text/javascript" src="{0}"></script>rn",
                         path);
}

If intellisense is what you’re after you could trick VS into thinking that a JS file has been loaded… E.g.

<% if (false)
   { %>
    <script src="../../Scripts/Myscript.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<% } %>

HTHs,
Charles

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