Implementing Backward and Forward buttons of Browser

Last Updated : 29 Mar, 2023

Design the forward and backward buttons of a Browser using Stack Data Structure. If at any instance, the URL does not exist after pressing any of the two buttons, then print "Not Available". Otherwise, print the current URL.

Approach: The idea is to use two stacks backward and forward to keep track of visited URLs and a variable "currentStateURL" to store the currently visited URL. Follow the steps below to solve the problem:

Initialize currentStateURL that will store the current URL of the Browser.
Initialize two stacks forwardStack and backwardStack that will store the sequence of URLs accessed when the forward and the backward buttons are pressed respectively.
While visiting any new URL, push it into backwardStack.
While pressing the forward button push currentStateURL into backwardStack and pop the last URL from forwardStack and set it as currentStateURL.
While pressing the backward button, push currentStateURL into forwardStack and pop the last URL from backwardStack, and set it as currentStateURL.

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ program for the above approach

#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// Stores the current visiting page
string current_state_url = "";

// Stores url when pressed forward
stack<string> forward_stack;

// Stores url when pressed backward
stack<string> backward_stack;

// Function for when visit a url
void visit_new_url(string url)
{
    // If current URL is empty
    if (current_state_url != "") {

        // Push into backward_stack
        backward_stack.push(
            current_state_url);
    }

    // Set curr_state_url to url
    current_state_url = url;
}

// Function to handle state when the
// forward button is pressed
void forward()
{
    // If current url is the last url
    if (forward_stack.empty()
        || current_state_url
               == forward_stack.top()) {
        cout << "Not Available\n";
        return;
    }

    // Otherwise
    else {

        // Push current state to the
        // backward stack
        backward_stack.push(
            current_state_url);

        // Set current state to top
        // of forward stack
        current_state_url
            = forward_stack.top();

        // Remove from forward stack
        forward_stack.pop();
    }
}

// Function to handle state when the
// backward button is pressed
void backward()
{
    // If current url is the last url
    if (backward_stack.empty()
        || current_state_url
               == backward_stack.top()) {

        cout << "Not Available\n";
        return;
    }

    // Otherwise
    else {

        // Push current url to the
        // forward stack
        forward_stack.push(
            current_state_url);

        // Set current url to top
        // of backward stack
        current_state_url
            = backward_stack.top();

        // Pop it from backward stack
        backward_stack.pop();
    }
}

// Function that performs the process
// of pressing forward and backward
// button in a Browser
void simulatorFunction()
{
    // Current URL
    string url = "ajay.com";

    // Visit the current URL
    visit_new_url(url);

    // Print the current URL
    cout << "Current URL is: "
         << current_state_url
         << " \n";

    // New current URL
    url = "abc.com";

    // Visit the current URL
    visit_new_url(url);

    // Print the current URL
    cout << "Current URL is: "
         << current_state_url
         << " \n";

    // Pressed backward button
    backward();

    // Print the current URL
    cout << "Current URL after pressing"
         << " Backward button is: "
         << current_state_url
         << " \n";

    // Pressed forward button
    forward();

    // Print the current URL
    cout << "Current URL after pressing"
         << " Forward button is: "
         << current_state_url
         << " \n";

    // New current URL
    url = "nikhil.com";

    // Visit the current URL
    visit_new_url(url);

    // Print the current URL
    cout << "Current URL is: "
         << current_state_url
         << " \n";

    // Pressed forward button
    forward();

    // Print the current URL
    cout << "Current URL after pressing"
         << " Forward button is: "
         << current_state_url
         << " \n";
    // Pressed backward button
    backward();

    // Print the current URL
    cout << "Current URL after pressing"
         << " Backward button is: "
         << current_state_url
         << " \n";
}

// Driver Code
int main()
{
    // Function to simulate process of
    // pressing forward & backward button
    simulatorFunction();
}

Java

// Java program for the 
// above approach
import java.util.*;
class GFG{

// Stores the current 
// visiting page
static String current_state_url = "";

// Stores url when pressed forward
static Stack<String> 
       forward_stack = new Stack<>();

// Stores url when pressed backward
static Stack<String> 
       backward_stack = new Stack<>();

// Function for when visit a url
static void visit_new_url(String url)
{
  // If current URL is empty
  if (current_state_url != "")
  {
    // Push into backward_stack
    backward_stack.add(
             current_state_url);
  }

  // Set curr_state_url to url
  current_state_url = url;
}

// Function to handle state 
// when the forward button 
// is pressed
static void forward()
{
  // If current url is the last url
  if (forward_stack.isEmpty() || 
      current_state_url == 
      forward_stack.peek()) 
  {
    System.out.print("Not Available\n");
    return;
  }

  // Otherwise
  else 
  {
    // Push current state to the
    // backward stack
    backward_stack.add(
             current_state_url);

    // Set current state to top
    // of forward stack
    current_state_url = 
            forward_stack.peek();

    // Remove from forward 
    // stack
    forward_stack.pop();
  }
}

// Function to handle state
// when the backward button 
// is pressed
static void backward()
{
  // If current url is the 
  // last url
  if (backward_stack.isEmpty() || 
      current_state_url == 
      backward_stack.peek()) 
  {
    System.out.print("Not Available\n");
    return;
  }

  // Otherwise
  else 
  {
    // Push current url to the
    // forward stack
    forward_stack.add(
            current_state_url);

    // Set current url to top
    // of backward stack
    current_state_url = 
            backward_stack.peek();

    // Pop it from backward 
    // stack
    backward_stack.pop();
  }
}

// Function that performs the 
// process of pressing forward 
// and backward button in a
// Browser
static void simulatorFunction()
{
  // Current URL
  String url = "ajay.com";

  // Visit the current URL
  visit_new_url(url);

  // Print the current URL
  System.out.print("Current URL is: " + 
                   current_state_url + 
                   " \n");

  // New current URL
  url = "abc.com";

  // Visit the current URL
  visit_new_url(url);

  // Print the current URL
  System.out.print("Current URL is: " + 
                   current_state_url + 
                   " \n");

  // Pressed backward button
  backward();

  // Print the current URL
  System.out.print("Current URL after pressing" + 
                   " Backward button is: " + 
                   current_state_url + " \n");

  // Pressed forward button
  forward();

  // Print the current URL
  System.out.print("Current URL after pressing" + 
                   " Forward button is: " + 
                   current_state_url + " \n");

    // New current URL
    url = "nikhil.com";

    // Visit the current URL
    visit_new_url(url);

    // Print the current URL
    System.out.print("Current URL is: " + 
                     current_state_url + 
                     " \n");

    // Pressed forward button
    forward();

    // Print the current URL
    System.out.print("Current URL after pressing" + 
                     " Forward button is: " + 
                     current_state_url + " \n");
    // Pressed backward button
    backward();

    // Print the current URL
    System.out.print("Current URL after pressing" + 
                     " Backward button is: " + 
                     current_state_url + " \n");
}

// Driver Code
public static void main(String[] args)
{
  // Function to simulate process of
  // pressing forward & backward button
  simulatorFunction();
}
}

// This code is contributed by shikhasingrajput

Python3

# Python3 program for the above approach

# Stores the current
# visiting page
current_state_url = ""
 
# Stores url when pressed forward
forward_stack = []
 
# Stores url when pressed backward
backward_stack = []    
 
# Function for when visit a url
def visit_new_url(url):
  global current_state_url
  
  # If current URL is empty
  if (current_state_url != ""):
    # Push into backward_stack
    backward_stack.append(current_state_url)
 
  # Set curr_state_url to url
  current_state_url = url
 
# Function to handle state
# when the forward button
# is pressed
def forward():
  # If current url is the last url
  if (len(forward_stack) == 0 or current_state_url == forward_stack[-1]):
    print("Not Available")
    return
 
  # Otherwise
  else:
    # Push current state to the
    # backward stack
    backward_stack.append(current_state_url)
 
    # Set current state to top
    # of forward stack
    current_state_url = forward_stack[-1]
 
    # Remove from forward
    # stack
    forward_stack.pop()
 
# Function to handle state
# when the backward button
# is pressed
def backward():
  # If current url is the
  # last url
  if (len(backward_stack) != 0 or current_state_url == backward_stack[-1]):
    print("Not Available")
    return
 
  # Otherwise
  else:
    # Push current url to the
    # forward stack
    forward_stack.append(current_state_url)
 
    # Set current url to top
    # of backward stack
    current_state_url = backward_stack[-1]
 
    # Pop it from backward
    # stack
    backward_stack[-1]
 
# Function that performs the
# process of pressing forward
# and backward button in a
# Browser
def simulatorFunction():
  # Current URL
  url = "ajay.com"
 
  # Visit the current URL
  visit_new_url(url)
 
  # Print the current URL
  print("Current URL is: " + current_state_url)
 
  # New current URL
  url = "abc.com"
 
  # Visit the current URL
  visit_new_url(url)
 
  # Print the current URL
  print("Current URL is: " + current_state_url)
 
  # Pressed backward button
  backward()
 
  # Print the current URL
  print("Current URL after pressing" + " Backward button is: " + current_state_url)
 
  # Pressed forward button
  forward()
 
  # Print the current URL
  print("Current URL after pressing" + " Forward button is: " + current_state_url)
 
  # New current URL
  url = "nikhil.com"
 
  # Visit the current URL
  visit_new_url(url)
 
  # Print the current URL
  print("Current URL is: " + current_state_url)
 
  # Pressed forward button
  forward()
 
  # Print the current URL
  print("Current URL after pressing" + " Forward button is: " + current_state_url)
  # Pressed backward button
  backward()
 
  # Print the current URL
  print("Current URL after pressing" + " Backward button is: " + current_state_url)
  
# Function to simulate process of
# pressing forward & backward button
simulatorFunction()

# This code is contributed by suresh07.

// C# program for the 
// above approach
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
class GFG{

// Stores the current 
// visiting page
static String current_state_url = "";

// Stores url when pressed forward
static Stack<String> 
       forward_stack = new Stack<String>();

// Stores url when pressed backward
static Stack<String> 
       backward_stack = new Stack<String>();      

// Function for when visit a url
static void visit_new_url(String url)
{
  // If current URL is empty
  if (current_state_url != "")
  {
    // Push into backward_stack
    backward_stack.Push(
             current_state_url);
  }

  // Set curr_state_url to url
  current_state_url = url;
}

// Function to handle state 
// when the forward button 
// is pressed
static void forward()
{
  // If current url is the last url
  if (forward_stack.Count == 0 || 
      current_state_url == 
      forward_stack.Peek()) 
  {
    Console.Write("Not Available\n");
    return;
  }

  // Otherwise
  else 
  {
    // Push current state to the
    // backward stack
    backward_stack.Push(
             current_state_url);

    // Set current state to top
    // of forward stack
    current_state_url = 
            forward_stack.Peek();

    // Remove from forward 
    // stack
    forward_stack.Pop();
  }
}

// Function to handle state
// when the backward button 
// is pressed
static void backward()
{
  // If current url is the 
  // last url
  if (backward_stack.Count != 0 || 
      current_state_url == 
      backward_stack.Peek()) 
  {
    Console.Write("Not Available\n");
    return;
  }

  // Otherwise
  else 
  {
    // Push current url to the
    // forward stack
    forward_stack.Push(
            current_state_url);

    // Set current url to top
    // of backward stack
    current_state_url = 
            backward_stack.Peek();

    // Pop it from backward 
    // stack
    backward_stack.Pop();
  }
}

// Function that performs the 
// process of pressing forward 
// and backward button in a
// Browser
static void simulatorFunction()
{
  // Current URL
  String url = "ajay.com";

  // Visit the current URL
  visit_new_url(url);

  // Print the current URL
  Console.Write("Current URL is: " + 
                current_state_url + 
                " \n");

  // New current URL
  url = "abc.com";

  // Visit the current URL
  visit_new_url(url);

  // Print the current URL
  Console.Write("Current URL is: " + 
                current_state_url + 
                " \n");

  // Pressed backward button
  backward();

  // Print the current URL
  Console.Write("Current URL after pressing" + 
                " Backward button is: " + 
                current_state_url + " \n");

  // Pressed forward button
  forward();

  // Print the current URL
  Console.Write("Current URL after pressing" + 
                " Forward button is: " + 
                current_state_url + " \n");

  // New current URL
  url = "nikhil.com";

  // Visit the current URL
  visit_new_url(url);

  // Print the current URL
  Console.Write("Current URL is: " + 
                current_state_url + 
                " \n");

  // Pressed forward button
  forward();

  // Print the current URL
  Console.Write("Current URL after pressing" + 
                " Forward button is: " + 
                current_state_url + " \n");
  // Pressed backward button
  backward();

  // Print the current URL
  Console.Write("Current URL after pressing" + 
                " Backward button is: " + 
                current_state_url + " \n");
}

// Driver Code
public static void Main(String[] args)
{
  // Function to simulate process of
  // pressing forward & backward button
  simulatorFunction();
}
}

// This code is contributed by shikhasingrajput

JavaScript

<script>
    // Javascript program for the above approach
    
    // Stores the current
    // visiting page
    let current_state_url = "";

    // Stores url when pressed forward
    let forward_stack = [];

    // Stores url when pressed backward
    let backward_stack = [];  

    // Function for when visit a url
    function visit_new_url(url)
    {
      // If current URL is empty
      if (current_state_url != "")
      {
        // Push into backward_stack
        backward_stack.push(current_state_url);
      }

      // Set curr_state_url to url
      current_state_url = url;
    }

    // Function to handle state
    // when the forward button
    // is pressed
    function forward()
    {
      // If current url is the last url
      if (forward_stack.length == 0 ||
          current_state_url == forward_stack[forward_stack.length - 1])
      {
        document.write("Not Available" + "</br>");
        return;
      }

      // Otherwise
      else
      {
        // Push current state to the
        // backward stack
        backward_stack.push(current_state_url);

        // Set current state to top
        // of forward stack
        current_state_url = forward_stack[forward_stack.length - 1];

        // Remove from forward
        // stack
        forward_stack.pop();
      }
    }

    // Function to handle state
    // when the backward button
    // is pressed
    function backward()
    {
      // If current url is the
      // last url
      if (backward_stack.length == 0 ||
          current_state_url ==
          backward_stack[backward_stack.length - 1])
      {
        document.write("Not Available" + "</br>");
        return;
      }

      // Otherwise
      else
      {
        // Push current url to the
        // forward stack
        forward_stack.push(current_state_url);

        // Set current url to top
        // of backward stack
        current_state_url = backward_stack[backward_stack.length - 1];

        // Pop it from backward
        // stack
        backward_stack.pop();
      }
    }

    // Function that performs the
    // process of pressing forward
    // and backward button in a
    // Browser
    function simulatorFunction()
    {
      // Current URL
      let url = "ajay.com";

      // Visit the current URL
      visit_new_url(url);

      // Print the current URL
      document.write("Current URL is: " + current_state_url + "</br>");

      // New current URL
      url = "abc.com";

      // Visit the current URL
      visit_new_url(url);

      // Print the current URL
      document.write("Current URL is: " + current_state_url + "</br>");

      // Pressed backward button
      backward();

      // Print the current URL
      document.write("Current URL after pressing" + " Backward button is: " +
                    current_state_url + " </br>");

      // Pressed forward button
      forward();

      // Print the current URL
      document.write("Current URL after pressing" +
                    " Forward button is: " +
                    current_state_url + " </br>");

      // New current URL
      url = "nikhil.com";

      // Visit the current URL
      visit_new_url(url);

      // Print the current URL
      document.write("Current URL is: " +
                    current_state_url +
                    " </br>");

      // Pressed forward button
      forward();

      // Print the current URL
      document.write("Current URL after pressing" +
                    " Forward button is: " +
                    current_state_url + " </br>");
      // Pressed backward button
      backward();

      // Print the current URL
      document.write("Current URL after pressing" +
                    " Backward button is: " +
                    current_state_url + " </br>");
    }
    
    // Function to simulate process of
    // pressing forward & backward button
    simulatorFunction();

// This code is contributed by rameshtravel07.
</script>

Output

Current URL is: ajay.com 
Current URL is: abc.com 
Current URL after pressing Backward button is: ajay.com 
Current URL after pressing Forward button is: abc.com 
Current URL is: nikhil.com 
Not Available
Current URL after pressing Forward button is: nikhil.com 
Current URL after pressing Backward button is: abc.com

Time Complexity: O(N).
Auxiliary Space: O(N).

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Implementing Backward and Forward buttons of Browser

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