What does the pushstate() method do in the History API?

The pushState() method of the History API is designed to manipulate the browser's session history. When you use pushState(), it enables you to add a new entry to the session history stack without causing a page reload. This means you can change the current URL to a new one while also pushing a corresponding state object into the history.

Using pushState() allows you to maintain a seamless user experience. For instance, if you have a single-page application (SPA) and want to change the URL when the user navigates to a different view, you can do so without triggering a full page load. This helps in building more dynamic and responsive web applications.

The state object that gets pushed can contain any data you wish, which can be useful for retrieving state information when the user navigates back or forward through the history.

While the other options involve various aspects of URL handling and history management, they do not encapsulate the primary function of pushState(), which specifically deals with adding a state object to the session history stack along with a new URL.