How Can I Get the Referrer URL in JavaScript?

Retrieving the Previous URL in JavaScript

Wondering how to access the URL of the page that preceded the current one in JavaScript? While the method you described using window.history.previous.href is not available, there is an alternative solution:

Use document.referrer: This property contains the URL of the page from which the current page was accessed. It is widely supported in browsers and reliable in many cases where the user navigated to the current page by clicking a link.

alert("Previous URL is: " + document.referrer);

Note that document.referrer may not be available in certain scenarios, such as direct URL input or form submissions. Additionally, it may not accurately reflect the previous URL if the user accessed the current page through a bookmark or cached history.

Limitations and Considerations

For enhanced security and privacy, JavaScript does not have direct access to the full URL history of the browser. This prevents websites from tracking the entirety of a user's browsing activity.

If you are managing application state within your own site, consider using session management techniques like cookies, URL parameters, or server-side session storage instead. These methods provide a more reliable and structured approach to maintaining state across page transitions.

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