Question

Let’s say that I own 2 websites, A and B. I have access to the source code for website A but not for website B although it is developed by the same organization I work for, but by a different department that won’t share the source code with us.

When a user browses away from website A to website B, I want to insert some HTML into website B that links back to website A. Something like a plug-in that facebook, twitter, etc. provide.

I understand that I can do this in two ways:

First Way: Using javascript
I ask the developers on the B website to include a <div id = "fromWebsiteA" /> and my javascript code <script src = "websiteA.com/script.js" /> tag. In my javascript code, I access the DOM of the hosting page on website B and create child elements inside my div “fromWebsiteA”. This is what most social networking websites provide website publishers who want to put a Pin It (Pinterest) or Digg it or whatever button on their website.

Second way: Using iFrames
I give them an iframe within which my content will load. Like facebook’s like plug-in.

My questions are:

1) Am I thinking along the right lines?

2) Is there a third technique?

3) Sorry if I sound stupid with this last question, as I understand it involves security threats, but is there a way for me to insert that HTML into site B without involving the development team of site B at all?

Answer 1

I think the right way is just to ask the website B developer to write a code that checks the http_referer in the header and then accordingly shows your widget(or whatever you call it)
Also it would be smart to store a cookie so they can keep showing the widget when the user is navigating through the website.

Another way you can include a GET variable like ?from=websiteA or something instead of checking http_referer