Javascript Back Button in PHP page

Rex_Ross

I have a php page for an application.

I need to have a "back" button or link to return to the html page that called the php page.

This is easily done in an html page returning to the calling html page by:

<a href="javascript:javascript:history.go(-1)">Previous Page</a>

I can insert this in my php page, but it does not appear to link to javascript and nothing happens when the link is activated.

So, two possible questions:

How to return to the html page which called the php page.
Maybe, just how to access javascript in php.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Thanks.

halojoy

When doing an echo in PHP
this produces HTML code.

So, should not be anything different happening in PHP.
It should work alright.

<?php

echo '<a href="javascript:javascript:history.go(-1)">Previous Page</a>';

?>

Rex_Ross

Thanks, but tried exactly that.

The result is no action.

It would appear that it is not connected to Javascript, but I am not sure.

Is there perhaps some line I should insert into my php page to "load" java?

halojoy

There is one case when there is no previous page
then there is nothing to GO BACK to.
We can see this in browser meny, when the browser back button is disabled.

Your issue could be a browser java setting thing.
But probably not.

The php code above works perfectly for me!

Rex_Ross

I have tested that approach in some pages where there is nothing else.

It does work.

So I am presuming that there is something in my application php page which is getting in the way.

So you are perfectly correct. Thanks for responding. I will piddle with my more complex php page to see if I can figure anything out.

johanafm

You should drop the extra "javascript:"

Rex_Ross

I will try dropping the extra javascript.

But the structure works in a controlled test.

I think the issue is that this link is located in a php page which was loaded by index.php page which was called originally by an html page.

I think this path does not provide the lowest level page with any url history.

johanafm

Rex Ross;10939642 wrote:
(...) a php page which was loaded by index.php page which was called originally by an html page.

Does this imply a meta refresh? And if so, was any other page loaded before the html page? What happens is this:
1. load some other page, say google.com
2. load your html page -> redirects to your php page
3. click history.go(-1) -> takes you to google.com

Or, if no other page was loaded before the html page
1. load html page -> redirects to php page
2. click back: nothing happens because there is no previous request to go back to.

If you wish the html page to be "back browsable", replace the meta refresh with a link the user can click.

Dirch

halojoy;10939633 wrote:
When doing an echo in PHP
this produces HTML code.

So, should not be anything different happening in PHP.
It should work alright.
<?php

echo '<a href="javascript:javascript:history.go(-1)">Previous Page</a>';

?>

Why do you use two javascripts? javascript:javascript:history.go(-1)

I got this to work by using javascript:history.go(-1)