Back button bindings

Sometimes you need to change what happens when the browser back button is pressed - for example you might want to disable the back button, or as I did, bind it to a hidden button.

The simplest way is as follows (assuming you are using jquery):

Javascript:

$( function() {
  history.pushState("back", null, null);
  if (typeof history.pushState === "function") {
    history.pushState("back", null, null);
    window.onpopstate = function (evt)
    {
      history.pushState('back', null, null);
      alert( "Back button pressed!" )
     };
   } 
})


Coffeescript:

$( () ->
  history.pushState("back", null, null);
  if typeof history.pushState == "function"
    history.pushState("back", null, null);
    window.onpopstate = (evt) ->
      history.pushState('back', null, null);
      $( "#back_a_page" ).click()
)

The coffeescript example will result in the button with id="back_a_page" getting clicked, whenever the back button is pressed.  

In chrome, to quickly test, this, go to  github  (which uses jquery) and hit the F12 button, then select console.  Paste in the javascript code and hit enter.  Now hit the back button :)