diff --git a/backend/data/blooms.py b/backend/data/blooms.py
index 7e280cf..6121ffb 100644
--- a/backend/data/blooms.py
+++ b/backend/data/blooms.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ class Bloom:
 
 
 def add_bloom(*, sender: User, content: str) -> Bloom:
+    if len(content) > 280:
+        raise ValueError("Bloom content must not exceed 280 character limit.")
     hashtags = [word[1:] for word in content.split(" ") if word.startswith("#")]
 
     now = datetime.datetime.now(tz=datetime.UTC)
diff --git a/front-end/components/bloom-form.mjs b/front-end/components/bloom-form.mjs
index e047f9a..6a71b98 100644
--- a/front-end/components/bloom-form.mjs
+++ b/front-end/components/bloom-form.mjs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import {apiService} from "../index.mjs";
+import { apiService } from "../index.mjs";
 
 /**
  * Create a bloom form component
@@ -26,6 +26,11 @@ async function handleBloomSubmit(event) {
   const originalText = submitButton.textContent;
   const textarea = form.querySelector("textarea");
   const content = textarea.value.trim();
+  const charMaxLength = 280;
+  if (content.length > charMaxLength) {
+    alert(`Bloom content must be 280 characters or less.`);
+    return;
+  }
 
   try {
     // Make form inert while we call the back end
@@ -55,4 +60,4 @@ function handleTyping(event) {
   counter.textContent = `${textarea.value.length} / ${maxLength}`;
 }
 
-export {createBloomForm, handleBloomSubmit, handleTyping};
+export { createBloomForm, handleBloomSubmit, handleTyping };
diff --git a/front-end/components/bloom.mjs b/front-end/components/bloom.mjs
index 0b4166c..3d5951b 100644
--- a/front-end/components/bloom.mjs
+++ b/front-end/components/bloom.mjs
@@ -36,9 +36,10 @@ const createBloom = (template, bloom) => {
 
 function _formatHashtags(text) {
   if (!text) return text;
+  // special character in hashtag convert into url friendly format
   return text.replace(
-    /\B#[^#]+/g,
-    (match) => `<a href="/hashtag/${match.slice(1)}">${match}</a>`
+    /\B#(\w+)/g,
+    (match, tag) => `<a href="/hashtag/${encodeURIComponent(tag)}">${match}</a>`
   );
 }
 
@@ -84,4 +85,4 @@ function _formatTimestamp(timestamp) {
   }
 }
 
-export {createBloom};
+export { createBloom };
diff --git a/front-end/lib/api.mjs b/front-end/lib/api.mjs
index f4b5339..8a5f5bc 100644
--- a/front-end/lib/api.mjs
+++ b/front-end/lib/api.mjs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import {state} from "../index.mjs";
-import {handleErrorDialog} from "../components/error.mjs";
+import { state } from "../index.mjs";
+import { handleErrorDialog } from "../components/error.mjs";
 
 // === ABOUT THE STATE
 // state gives you these two functions only
@@ -20,13 +20,13 @@ async function _apiRequest(endpoint, options = {}) {
   const defaultOptions = {
     headers: {
       "Content-Type": "application/json",
-      ...(token ? {Authorization: `Bearer ${token}`} : {}),
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
     },
     mode: "cors",
     credentials: "include",
   };
 
-  const fetchOptions = {...defaultOptions, ...options};
+  const fetchOptions = { ...defaultOptions, ...options };
   const url = endpoint.startsWith("http") ? endpoint : `${baseUrl}${endpoint}`;
 
   try {
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ async function _apiRequest(endpoint, options = {}) {
     const contentType = response.headers.get("content-type");
     return contentType?.includes("application/json")
       ? await response.json()
-      : {success: true};
+      : { success: true };
   } catch (error) {
     if (!error.status) {
       // Only handle network errors here, response errors are handled above
@@ -70,11 +70,11 @@ function _updateProfile(username, profileData) {
   const index = profiles.findIndex((p) => p.username === username);
 
   if (index !== -1) {
-    profiles[index] = {...profiles[index], ...profileData};
+    profiles[index] = { ...profiles[index], ...profileData };
   } else {
-    profiles.push({username, ...profileData});
+    profiles.push({ username, ...profileData });
   }
-  state.updateState({profiles});
+  state.updateState({ profiles });
 }
 
 // ====== AUTH methods
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ async function login(username, password) {
   try {
     const data = await _apiRequest("/login", {
       method: "POST",
-      body: JSON.stringify({username, password}),
+      body: JSON.stringify({ username, password }),
     });
 
     if (data.success && data.token) {
@@ -91,12 +91,13 @@ async function login(username, password) {
         currentUser: username,
         isLoggedIn: true,
       });
+      window.location.hash = "/"; // ensures hash router loads home view
       await Promise.all([getBlooms(), getProfile(username), getWhoToFollow()]);
     }
 
     return data;
   } catch (error) {
-    return {success: false};
+    return { success: false };
   }
 }
 
@@ -104,12 +105,12 @@ async function getWhoToFollow() {
   try {
     const usernamesToFollow = await _apiRequest("/suggested-follows/3");
 
-    state.updateState({whoToFollow: usernamesToFollow});
+    state.updateState({ whoToFollow: usernamesToFollow });
 
     return usernamesToFollow;
   } catch (error) {
     // Error already handled by _apiRequest
-    state.updateState({usernamesToFollow: []});
+    state.updateState({ usernamesToFollow: [] });
     return [];
   }
 }
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ async function signup(username, password) {
   try {
     const data = await _apiRequest("/register", {
       method: "POST",
-      body: JSON.stringify({username, password}),
+      body: JSON.stringify({ username, password }),
     });
 
     if (data.success && data.token) {
@@ -132,20 +133,21 @@ async function signup(username, password) {
 
     return data;
   } catch (error) {
-    return {success: false};
+    return { success: false };
   }
 }
 
 function logout() {
   state.destroyState();
-  return {success: true};
+  window.location.hash = "/"; // redirect to home page after logout
+  return { success: true };
 }
 
 // ===== BLOOM methods
 async function getBloom(bloomId) {
   const endpoint = `/bloom/${bloomId}`;
   const bloom = await _apiRequest(endpoint);
-  state.updateState({singleBloomToShow: bloom});
+  state.updateState({ singleBloomToShow: bloom });
   return bloom;
 }
 
@@ -156,18 +158,18 @@ async function getBlooms(username) {
     const blooms = await _apiRequest(endpoint);
 
     if (username) {
-      _updateProfile(username, {blooms});
+      _updateProfile(username, { blooms });
     } else {
-      state.updateState({timelineBlooms: blooms});
+      state.updateState({ timelineBlooms: blooms });
     }
 
     return blooms;
   } catch (error) {
     // Error already handled by _apiRequest
     if (username) {
-      _updateProfile(username, {blooms: []});
+      _updateProfile(username, { blooms: [] });
     } else {
-      state.updateState({timelineBlooms: []});
+      state.updateState({ timelineBlooms: [] });
     }
     return [];
   }
@@ -189,7 +191,7 @@ async function getBloomsByHashtag(hashtag) {
     return blooms;
   } catch (error) {
     // Error already handled by _apiRequest
-    return {success: false};
+    return { success: false };
   }
 }
 
@@ -197,7 +199,7 @@ async function postBloom(content) {
   try {
     const data = await _apiRequest("/bloom", {
       method: "POST",
-      body: JSON.stringify({content}),
+      body: JSON.stringify({ content }),
     });
 
     if (data.success) {
@@ -208,7 +210,7 @@ async function postBloom(content) {
     return data;
   } catch (error) {
     // Error already handled by _apiRequest
-    return {success: false};
+    return { success: false };
   }
 }
 
@@ -225,16 +227,16 @@ async function getProfile(username) {
       const currentUsername = profileData.username;
       const fullProfileData = await _apiRequest(`/profile/${currentUsername}`);
       _updateProfile(currentUsername, fullProfileData);
-      state.updateState({currentUser: currentUsername, isLoggedIn: true});
+      state.updateState({ currentUser: currentUsername, isLoggedIn: true });
     }
 
     return profileData;
   } catch (error) {
     // Error already handled by _apiRequest
     if (!username) {
-      state.updateState({isLoggedIn: false, currentUser: null});
+      state.updateState({ isLoggedIn: false, currentUser: null });
     }
-    return {success: false};
+    return { success: false };
   }
 }
 
@@ -242,7 +244,7 @@ async function followUser(username) {
   try {
     const data = await _apiRequest("/follow", {
       method: "POST",
-      body: JSON.stringify({follow_username: username}),
+      body: JSON.stringify({ follow_username: username }),
     });
 
     if (data.success) {
@@ -255,7 +257,7 @@ async function followUser(username) {
 
     return data;
   } catch (error) {
-    return {success: false};
+    return { success: false };
   }
 }
 
@@ -277,7 +279,7 @@ async function unfollowUser(username) {
     return data;
   } catch (error) {
     // Error already handled by _apiRequest
-    return {success: false};
+    return { success: false };
   }
 }
 
@@ -300,4 +302,4 @@ const apiService = {
   getWhoToFollow,
 };
 
-export {apiService};
+export { apiService };
diff --git a/front-end/views/hashtag.mjs b/front-end/views/hashtag.mjs
index 7b7e996..181b8e7 100644
--- a/front-end/views/hashtag.mjs
+++ b/front-end/views/hashtag.mjs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import {renderOne, renderEach, destroy} from "../lib/render.mjs";
+import { renderOne, renderEach, destroy } from "../lib/render.mjs";
 import {
   state,
   apiService,
@@ -7,17 +7,19 @@ import {
   getTimelineContainer,
   getHeadingContainer,
 } from "../index.mjs";
-import {createLogin, handleLogin} from "../components/login.mjs";
-import {createLogout, handleLogout} from "../components/logout.mjs";
-import {createBloom} from "../components/bloom.mjs";
-import {createHeading} from "../components/heading.mjs";
+import { createLogin, handleLogin } from "../components/login.mjs";
+import { createLogout, handleLogout } from "../components/logout.mjs";
+import { createBloom } from "../components/bloom.mjs";
+import { createHeading } from "../components/heading.mjs";
 
 // Hashtag view: show all tweets containing this tag
 
 function hashtagView(hashtag) {
+  const formattedHashtag = hashtag.startsWith("#") ? hashtag : `#${hashtag}`;
   destroy();
-
-  apiService.getBloomsByHashtag(hashtag);
+  if (formattedHashtag !== state.currentHashtag) {
+    apiService.getBloomsByHashtag(hashtag);
+  }
 
   renderOne(
     state.isLoggedIn,
@@ -52,4 +54,4 @@ function hashtagView(hashtag) {
   );
 }
 
-export {hashtagView};
+export { hashtagView };