How to make browser to go back to previous page using JavaScript ?
Last Updated :
12 Jul, 2025
There are two popular methods to navigate a browser back to the previous page. These methods allow easy navigation in a web session's history, offering simple and effective ways to move backward or forward through a user's browsing history.
These are the following two ways:
Method 1: Using history.go() Method
The history.go() method, is part of the window.history object allows navigation through a session's history by specifying a delta value. This value represents the number of steps to move forward or backward in history:
- A positive delta moves forward in history.
- A negative delta moves backward in history.
To go back to the previous page, you can pass -1 as the delta value, which moves the browser back one step in history.
Syntax:
window.history.go(-1);
Note: If we want to go back more than one step then increase the value of delta from '-1' to as much as you want.
Example: This example shows the use of history.go() method for going back to the previous page of the browser.
Page 1
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>
How to make browser to go back to
previous page using JavaScript ?
</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1 style="color: green">
GeeksforGeeks
</h1>
<b>
Onclick javascript to make browser
go back to previous page?
</b>
<h2>Page 1</h2>
<p>
Click on the link to get
to the second page.
</p>
<a href="page2.html">Go to Page 2</a>
</body>
</html>
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>
How to make browser to go back to
previous page using JavaScript ?
</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1 style="color: green">
GeeksforGeeks
</h1>
<b>
Onclick javascript to make browser
go back to previous page?
</b>
<h2>Page 2</h2>
<p>
Click on the button to go back
to the previous page.
</p>
<button onclick="history.go(-1)">
Click here to go back
</button>
</body>
</html>
Output:
Going back to previous page by using history.go() methodMethod 2: Using the history.back() Method
The history.back() method is a simpler and more specific way to navigate backward by one step in the session's history. This method automatically takes the browser back to the previous page, if available.
Syntax:
window.history.back();
Example: This example shows the use of history.back() method for going back to the previous page of the browser.
Page 1
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>
Onclick javascript to make browser go
back to previous page?
</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1 style="color: green">
GeeksforGeeks
</h1>
<b>
Onclick javascript to make browser
go back to previous page?
</b>
<h2>Page 1</h2>
<p>
Click on the link to get
to the second page.
</p>
<a href="page2.html">Go to Page 2</a>
</body>
</html>
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>
Onclick javascript to make browser
go back to previous page?
</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1 style="color: green">
GeeksforGeeks
</h1>
<b>
Onclick javascript to make browser
go back to previous page?
</b>
<h2>Page 2</h2>
<p>
Click on the button to go
back to the previous page.
</p>
<button onclick="history.back()">
Click here to go back
</button>
</body>
</html>
Output:
Going back to previous page by using history.back() method