how do some websites prevent you from using the ‘back’ button to leave the page?

Question

Often when I’m googling something I’ll go to a few pages, so I’ll click a link, and then use the back button to return to the search results and find another link. But sometimes the back button just reloads the page, and even tapping it multiple times doesn’t work. How and why do some websites do this? Surely it should be my browser that’s controlling if it goes back or not, rather than the website it’s on?

In: 197

Answer 1

Not, an answer, but does anyone know why some legitimate websites do this? Always assumed it was a programming mistake, because it feels frustrating and unprofessional.