Onclick Javascript To Make Browser Go Back To Previous Page

Navigating users back to the previous page on a website is a common requirement in web development. Thankfully, JavaScript provides a simple and effective way to achieve this functionality using the `onclick` event. In this guide, we will walk through how to implement an `onclick` JavaScript function to make the browser go back to the previous page with just a few lines of code.

First things first, let's create the button that users will click to go back to the previous page. You can use an HTML button element and set its `onclick` attribute to call a JavaScript function. Here's an example:

<button>Go Back</button>

In the above code snippet, we've created a button element with the text "Go Back" that triggers the `goBack()` JavaScript function when clicked. Now, let's define the `goBack()` function in a `` tag in the HTML document:

function goBack() {
    window.history.back();
  }

The `goBack()` function we've defined simply calls `window.history.back()` when invoked. This JavaScript method tells the browser to navigate back to the previous page in the browsing history.

It's important to note that this method works similarly to the user clicking the browser's back button. If there is no previous page in the history stack (i.e., the user landed directly on the current page or has already navigated back), calling `window.history.back()` will have no effect.

You can further customize the behavior by adding conditions or additional logic to the `goBack()` function. For example, you could check if there is a previous page to go back to before invoking `window.history.back()`.

Additionally, you can style the button using CSS to make it visually appealing and fit the design of your website. Here's an example of styling the button with a background color and padding:

button {
  background-color: #3498db;
  color: white;
  padding: 10px 20px;
  border: none;
  border-radius: 5px;
  cursor: pointer;
}

button:hover {
  background-color: #2980b9;
}

By combining HTML for the button element, JavaScript for the `goBack()` function, and CSS for styling, you can create a user-friendly and functional "Go Back" button on your website. This feature enhances the user experience by providing an intuitive way for users to navigate back to the previous page effortlessly.

In conclusion, implementing an `onclick` JavaScript function to make the browser go back to the previous page is a straightforward task that can enhance the usability of your website. With just a few lines of code, you can empower users to navigate seamlessly through your site's content.