Putting email addresses onto webpages

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Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
9,044
Location
London
Obviously it's a bad idea. Certain accounts of mine are proof of this!...
However what IS the best way of doing so...? Taking 3 things into account:
1. usebilty
2. Accessiblity
3. Keeping the damn spammers out.

I thought of some ideas.

A. me[at]you[dot]com (bad for 1/2. 3 has probably generated some routine of fishing these out too(!).)

B. An image instead of any text (3 stands very little chance. 2 probably suffers. Good for 1 as they can see it 'normally' however they can't click on it, or copy and paste it.

C. Use a 'contact us' style form. (good for all 3 really, I guess. But sometimes you NEED to use email..)

Does anyone else have any ideas on this?
 
In the past, I have used images for the @ symbol and the dot, and given them the alternative text of [at] and [dot]. I was willing to sacrifice partially on accessibility and usability in favour of spam-prevention.
 
contact form is best, that way your email address is never visible

if you have to have clickable email address .. one of the tried and tested methods is the one here mysterious ways email encryption

using the javascript obsfugation

- although, this will cut spam down, there are some that will read it. (probably cuts down about 50% of spiders)

another way is have to the email address in a separate javascript file, as spiders don't tend to read it. Have not used it, but heard good things about it.

The only thing is what if javascript is disabled? - well, then in those 2% of cases, they can use a contact form.


or

you can hide it in a little flash, although, that's a pain to do
 
I've probably had more problems with people flooding my clients via contact forms than spamming their email addresses. Of course, anti-flood methods can be implemented to counter this, but it's still a bit of a pain.
 
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