Prevent Use of the Back Button (in IE)

Question

So the SMEs at my current place of employment want to try and disable the back button for certain pages. We have a page where the user makes some selections and submits the

Answer 1

If you are starting a new web app from scratch, or you have enough time to rework your app, you can use JavaScript and AJAX to avoid the browser's history, back, and forward functions.

• Open your app in a new window, either before or immediately after login.
• If you wish, use window options to hide the nav bar (with the back and forward buttons).
• Use AJAX for all server requests, without ever changing the window's location URL.
• Use a simple web API to get data and perform actions, and render the app using JavaScript.
• There will be only one URL in the window's history.
• The back and forward buttons will do nothing.
• The window can be closed automatically on logging out.
• No information is leaked to the browser history, which can help with security.

This technique answers the question, but it also contradicts best practice in several ways:

• The back and forward buttons should behave as expected.
• An app should not open new browser windows.
• An app should still function without JavaScript.

Please carefully consider your requirements and your users before using this technique.