Redirect to a URL when browser back button is pressed using JavaScript

Question

I've done some research but couldn't find a solution.

I have a landingpage.html. I want to redirect a user to anotherpage.html when he/she presses the back button in the browser.

So I've tried this code:

let currentUrl = location.href;
history.replaceState('', '', 'anotherpage.html');
history.pushState('', '', currentUrl);

It works not quite as expected: when the back button is pressed the browser address bar displays anotherpage.html page, however no actual redirection happens.

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered May 25 '20 at 15:53

1

You could add an event listener for popstate so when the user presses back it fires and you can load in that page.

addEventListener('popstate',()=>{location.reload()})

answered May 25 '20 at 15:53

lusc

1,206
1
10
19

@Merger If you still need an explanation as to _why_ your code does not work as you expect, this may help: https://stackoverflow.com/a/12917772/746736 – Turnip May 25 '20 at 15:56

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered May 25 '20 at 15:52

0

You can use the main object window to do navigations stuff.

window.location.href = "html page path";

And to trigger to your button, subscribe the keyboard key

document.addEventListener('keypress', (e) => {
  if (e.key === 'your key name') window.location.href = "html page path";
});

answered May 25 '20 at 15:52

Vitor Piovezam

445
3
10

1

Keypress does not get triggered using browser back button... it is not in window or `document` context – charlietfl May 25 '20 at 15:54
Change the browser back button doesn’t made sense, the browser already back to the previous page. Modifying this can confuse the user. – Vitor Piovezam May 25 '20 at 15:57
1

I agree but that is what the question is about – charlietfl May 25 '20 at 15:59

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered May 25 '20 at 15:52

0

Have you tried doing location.href='<url>' You can check here as well w3schools

answered May 25 '20 at 15:52

Anupam Jagatdeo

121
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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered May 25 '20 at 16:11

0

not sure if it will allow on every browser though

function hackBackButton(){
location.href = "anotherpage.html";
}

history.back = hackBackButton();

answered May 25 '20 at 16:11

legrandmawak

11
1
4

another simple thing could be intercept the unload of the page. – legrandmawak May 25 '20 at 16:11

Redirect to a URL when browser back button is pressed using JavaScript

4 Answers4