History

The History interface allows manipulation of the browser session history, that is the pages visited in the tab or frame that the current page is loaded in.

Properties

The History interface doesn't inherit any property.

length Read only
Returns an Integer representing the number of elements in the session history, including the currently loaded page. For example, for a page loaded in a new tab this property returns 1.
scrollRestoration
Allows web applications to explicitly set default scroll restoration behavior on history navigation. This property can be either auto or manual.
state Read only
Returns an any value representing the state at the top of the history stack. This is a way to look at the state without having to wait for a popstate event.

Methods

The History interface doesn't inherit any methods.

back()
This asynchronous method goes to the previous page in session history, the same action as when the user clicks the browser's Back button. Equivalent to history.go(-1).
Calling this method to go back beyond the first page in the session history has no effect and doesn't raise an exception.
forward()
This asynchronous method goes to the next page in session history, the same action as when the user clicks the browser's Forward button; this is equivalent to history.go(1).
Calling this method to go forward beyond the most recent page in the session history has no effect and doesn't raise an exception.
go()
Asynchronously loads a page from the session history, identified by its relative location to the current page, for example -1 for the previous page or 1 for the next page. If you specify an out-of-bounds value (for instance, specifying -1 when there are no previously-visited pages in the session history), this method silently has no effect. Calling go() without parameters or a value of 0 reloads the current page. Internet Explorer lets you specify a string, instead of an integer, to go to a specific URL in the history list.
pushState()
Pushes the given data onto the session history stack with the specified title (and, if provided, URL). The data is treated as opaque by the DOM; you may specify any JavaScript object that can be serialized. Note that all browsers but Safari currently ignore the title parameter. For more information, see Working with the History API.
replaceState()
Updates the most recent entry on the history stack to have the specified data, title, and, if provided, URL. The data is treated as opaque by the DOM; you may specify any JavaScript object that can be serialized. Note that all browsers but Safari currently ignore the title parameter. For more information, see Working with the History API.

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
HTML Living Standard
The definition of 'History' in that specification.
Living Standard Adds the scrollRestoration attribute.
HTML5
The definition of 'History' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
HistoryChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 1IE Full support 10Opera Full support 3Safari Full support 1WebView Android Full support 1Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 10.1Safari iOS Full support 1Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
backChrome Full support YesEdge Full support 12Firefox Full support YesIE Full support 10Opera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support YesOpera Android Full support YesSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes
forwardChrome Full support YesEdge Full support 12Firefox Full support YesIE Full support 10Opera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support YesOpera Android Full support YesSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes
goChrome Full support YesEdge Full support 12Firefox Full support YesIE Full support 10Opera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support YesOpera Android Full support YesSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes
lengthChrome Full support YesEdge Full support 12Firefox Full support YesIE Full support 10Opera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support YesOpera Android Full support YesSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes
pushStateChrome Full support 5Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 4
Notes
Full support 4
Notes
Notes Until Firefox 5, the passed object is serialized using JSON. Starting in Firefox 6, the object is serialized using the structured clone algorithm. This allows a wider variety of objects to be safely passed.
IE Full support 10Opera Full support 11.5Safari Full support 5WebView Android Full support ≤37Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4
Notes
Full support 4
Notes
Notes Until Firefox 5, the passed object is serialized using JSON. Starting in Firefox 6, the object is serialized using the structured clone algorithm. This allows a wider variety of objects to be safely passed.
Opera Android Full support 11.5Safari iOS Full support 4.3Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
replaceStateChrome Full support 5Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 4
Notes
Full support 4
Notes
Notes Until Firefox 5, the passed object is serialized using JSON. Starting in Firefox 6, the object is serialized using the structured clone algorithm. This allows a wider variety of objects to be safely passed.
IE Full support 10Opera Full support 11.5Safari Full support 5WebView Android Full support ≤37Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4
Notes
Full support 4
Notes
Notes Until Firefox 5, the passed object is serialized using JSON. Starting in Firefox 6, the object is serialized using the structured clone algorithm. This allows a wider variety of objects to be safely passed.
Opera Android Full support 11.5Safari iOS Full support 4.3Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
scrollRestorationChrome Full support 46Edge Full support 79Firefox Full support 46IE No support NoOpera Full support 33Safari Full support YesWebView Android No support NoChrome Android Full support 46Firefox Android Full support YesOpera Android Full support YesSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 5.0
stateChrome Full support YesEdge Full support 12Firefox Full support YesIE Full support 10Opera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support YesOpera Android Full support YesSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.

See also

  • The Window.history property returning the history of the current session.