Disable Browser Back Button Functionality using JavaScript

In this article I will explain with an example, how to prevent user from navigate to previous page using back button of the browser or the back option in the context menu.

One cannot disable the browser back button functionality only thing that can be done is prevent them.

Disable Browser Back Button Script

The following JavaScript code snippet must be placed in the HEAD section of the Page where the User must be prevented from going back.

function preventBack(){window.history.forward();}

setTimeout("preventBack()", 0);

window.onunload=function(){null};

</script>

Disable Browser Back Button Implementation

For illustration purposes, two Pages are used Login and Home. After Login User is sent to Home page and using Browser Back button he will be prevented from going back to Login page from Home page.

The HTML Markup of Login page consists of an HTML Anchor link to the Home page.

The Disable Browser Back Button Script is placed in the HEAD section so that User cannot access the Login page using Browser Back button from Home page.

<head>

<title>Login</title>

function preventBack() { window.history.forward(); }

setTimeout("preventBack()", 0);

window.onunload = function () { null };

</script>

</head>

<body>

<h3>Login</h3>

<hr />

<a href = "Home.htm">Redirect to Home</a>

</body>

</html>

Home Page

The HTML Markup of Home page consists of an HTML Anchor link to the Login page.

Note: HTML Anchor link is added to illustrate that the Login page will be prevented only using Browser Back button and not when accessed using other means.