directive to prevent the default event action from occurring

gistfile1.js

    /**
     * preventDefault: prevents the default action of the event from occurring.  This is useful if
     * you are using anchor tags and hash routing, wherein you do not want the anchor click to screw
     * with your hashes.
     *
     * Usage:
     *
     * <a href="#" prevent-default="click">click me</a>
     */
    myModule.directive('preventDefault', function () {
        return {
            restrict: 'A',
            link: function (scope, element, attribs) {
                var handler = attribs.preventDefault;
                if (!handler) {
                    throw new Error('preventDefault: please specify an event name to bind to');
                }
                // note that "on" requires jQuery; otherwise use bind or something
                element.on(handler, function (evt) {
                    evt.preventDefault();
                });
            }
        };
    });