What are the steps to keep a web application from closing on Android when the back button is pressed?

Question

What are the steps to keep a web application from closing on Android when the back button is pressed?

I am currently working on a HTML5 web application and packaging it with Cordova (phonegap) 1.7.

My goal is to customize the behavior of the Android back button so that instead of closing the application by default, it navigates back using window.history.back(). How can I prevent Android from terminating the default activity when the back button is pressed?

I have noticed that the "Back button pressed!!!!" message appears in the logcat before the application closes, indicating that the method is being executed beforehand.

Here is what my code looks like at the moment:

// Wait for Cordova to load
//
document.addEventListener("deviceready", onDeviceReady, false);

// Cordova is ready
//
function onDeviceReady() {

    document.addEventListener("backbutton", function(e) {

        console.log("Back button pressed!!!!");                 
        window.history.back();


    }, false);

}

EDIT: I am open to any suggestions on how to simulate the functionality of window.history.back() directly from the DefaultActivity.java Android class, if such an approach is feasible!

javascript android cordova back-button

Answer 1

Answer №1

After some trial and error, I managed to resolve the issue by incorporating the following snippet into the MainActivity.kt file to override the default android behavior while retaining the original JavaScript code mentioned in the query:

@Override
public void onBackPressed() {
   return;
}

For anyone encountering a similar dilemma in the future, I hope this solution proves useful!

Answer 2

After some trial and error, I managed to resolve the issue by incorporating the following snippet into the MainActivity.kt file to override the default android behavior while retaining the original JavaScript code mentioned in the query:

@Override
public void onBackPressed() {
   return;
}

For anyone encountering a similar dilemma in the future, I hope this solution proves useful!

Answer 3

Answer №2

My approach to handling the back button event was similar. I checked if it was the first page and then prompted the user to confirm exiting the program, depending on the state of the program. I didn't feel the need to add the override as shown.

if ($.mobile.activePage.attr('id') === 'firstpage') {
    // Prompt to confirm the exit
} else {
  window.history.back();
}

If the user wants to exit, you can use:

navigator.app.exitApp();

You probably still want to give users the option to exit your app. Apps that don't allow an exit are not very user-friendly in my opinion.

I hope this solution works for you.

Answer 4

My approach to handling the back button event was similar. I checked if it was the first page and then prompted the user to confirm exiting the program, depending on the state of the program. I didn't feel the need to add the override as shown.

if ($.mobile.activePage.attr('id') === 'firstpage') {
    // Prompt to confirm the exit
} else {
  window.history.back();
}

If the user wants to exit, you can use:

navigator.app.exitApp();

You probably still want to give users the option to exit your app. Apps that don't allow an exit are not very user-friendly in my opinion.

I hope this solution works for you.

Answer 5

Answer №3

I've never personally had to perform that action, but have you considered using the statement return true?

For example, in the context of the Java SDK, returning True signals to the system that the event has been successfully handled and should not be passed on to additional event listeners.

Answer 6

I've never personally had to perform that action, but have you considered using the statement return true?

For example, in the context of the Java SDK, returning True signals to the system that the event has been successfully handled and should not be passed on to additional event listeners.

What are the steps to keep a web application from closing on Android when the back button is pressed?

Answer №1

Answer №2

Answer №3

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