<script type="text/javascript>
var x = 0; //this occurs in the beginning of the page.

$("#button").onclick{
x = 1;
}

</script>

Let's say the variable "x" changes to 1. Then the user clicks a link. When the user clicks "back", will x be 0 or 1?

<script type="text/javascript>
var x = 0; //this occurs in the beginning of the page.

$("#button").onclick{
x = 1;
}

</script>

Let's say the variable "x" changes to 1. Then the user clicks a link. When the user clicks "back", will x be 0 or 1?

• javascript
• jquery
• browser-history
• browser-state

• 2 You could test it, and let us know..? =) – David Thomas Commented Feb 24, 2010 at 3:04
• hey original poster you may wanna choose the other answer as accepted :D – Sharky Commented Feb 13, 2015 at 11:56

2 Answers 2

As detailed in another question, the real answer to this question is it depends on the browser.

In Firefox and Opera, the below page will preserve the state of 1 if Set x is clicked, the link is clicked, and then the back button is pressed. However, in Chrome and IE6 the page will be reloaded and x will have the value of 0.

<script src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.5.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<input type="button" id="button" value="Set x">
<input type="button" id="check-x" value="Check x">
<a href="http://www.stackoverflow.com">Click Me</a>
<script>
var x = 0;

$("#button").click(function(){
    x = 1;
});

$("#check-x").click(function(){
   alert(x); 
});
</script>

It will be 0. The browser does not cache the state of Javascript variables between page loads.

Update

This is not the case in browsers such as Firefox. Please see Trey's answer.