Google Chrome to Block Backspace Key from Working as "Back" Button

Do you use Backspace as the "Back" button on your browser?

  • Yes

    Votes: 2 10.5%
  • Occasionally, enough to matter

    Votes: 6 31.6%
  • Rarely, not enough to matter

    Votes: 3 15.8%
  • No

    Votes: 8 42.1%

  • Total voters
    19
Status
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A

Alkajak

Thread author
Description

Remove the default backspace event handler.

We have UseCounters showing that 0.04% of page views navigate back via the backspace button and 0.005% of page views are after a form interaction. The latter are often cases where the user loses data. Years of user complaints have been enough that we think it's the right choice to change this given the degree of pain users feel by losing their data and because every platform has another keyboard combination that navigates back.

We're doing this via a flag so that we can control this behavior should there be sufficient outcry.

Committed: a9fc5462ba084936191d51a9391ec5255e79a930 - chromium/src - Git at Google
Cr-Commit-Position: refs/heads/master@{#386433}

Big change for Chrome users, in my opinion. I use mouse button 4 and 5 for back/forward, but I do occasionally use Backspace as well.
 

jamescv7

Level 85
Verified
Honorary Member
Mar 15, 2011
13,070
Definitely block the backspace key, since the main purpose for that is for typing and not as alternative button.

Some websites does not optimize much, on that case Google Chrome made a fine move.
 
Last edited:
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Cohen

Level 7
Verified
Well-known
May 22, 2016
328
I'm all for it being removed, it's caused more problems for me than it's been helpful.
 
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