← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

Browser function: navigation tools

Browser buttons such as back, forward, refresh and home that let the user move between web pages, reload the current page and return to a starting page.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 5.1 The Internet and the World Wide Web — Module 23

Understanding Browser function: navigation tools in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

What it does: The home button loads the page the user has set as their home page, no matter which page they are on. After using back, the forward button goes to the next page in the visited sequence. Refresh reloads the current page from the web server so any new content is shown. Back would go to a different page. Back, forward, refresh and home help the user move around and reload pages. Encryption is done by HTTPS, not by navigation buttons. Refresh requests the same page again to update it; it does not change which page you are on.

Common mistakes: Refresh only reloads the current page. To reach a different page you follow a hyperlink, so the line should be FOLLOW link TO "sport.html". The forward button only works after you have gone back. The first step must be PRESS back, which is what makes forward available.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 477–489) and word search (Modules 464–489).

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Learning

Duo

A student clicks a link by mistake and wants to return to the page they were just on. Which button should they use?

Back buttonRefresh button

Matches

Click Home to go back to the previous page

↓

Home takes you to the start page, not the previous page. The back button goes to the previous page.

Applying

Meanings

Term

navigation tools

Meaning

Browser buttons such as back, forward, refresh and home that let the user move between web pages, reload the current page and return to a starting page.

Practice

Testing

Gaps

history.();

Check Answer

Spots

1current ← "news.html"

2PRESS refresh TO "sport.html"

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Quick Questions

1. A student clicks a link by mistake and wants to return to the page they were just on. Which button should they use?

A. Back button ✓

B. Refresh button

The back button takes the user to the previous page in their browsing session. Refresh only reloads the current page.

2. After pressing Back, which button lets the user return to the page they had just left?

A. Forward button ✓

B. Home button

The forward button moves on to the next page in the history. The home button goes to the start page instead.

3. A live football scores page has not changed for several minutes. What should the user press to get the latest version of the same page?

A. Back button

B. Refresh (reload) button ✓

Refresh reloads the current page from the web server so any new content is shown. Back would go to a different page.

4. Which statement about the home button is correct?

A. It reloads the current page from the server

B. It takes the user to their chosen start page ✓

The home button opens the start page that the user has set. Reloading the current page is the job of the refresh button.

5. A student has clicked through five pages on a news site and wants to get straight back to their start page. Which tool is the quickest?

A. Home button ✓

B. Back button pressed once

The home button jumps directly to the start page. Back moves only one page at a time, so it would need five clicks.

Match the Pairs

Back button → Takes the user to the previous web page they were viewing

Refresh button → Reloads the current web page to get the latest version from the web server

Returns the user to their chosen starting page with one click → Home button

Moves the user to a page they had gone back from → Forward button

Click Home to go back to the previous page → Home takes you to the start page, not the previous page. The back button goes to the previous page.

Click Refresh to move to the next page → Refresh reloads the current page, it does not move to another page. Forward or a hyperlink moves to a new page.

Key Term

navigation tools

Browser buttons such as back, forward, refresh and home that let the user move between web pages, reload the current page and return to a starting page.

Fill in the Blanks

1. // Same as the back button history.back();

Hint: Type the method name that moves to the previous page in the history.

2. // Same as the forward button history.forward();

Hint: Type the method name that moves on to the next page in the history.

3. // Same as the refresh button location.reload();

Hint: Type the method name that loads the current page again.

4. // Same as the home button location.href = "home.html";

Hint: Type the object that stores the address of the current page.

5. // Following a hyperlink <a href="page2.html">Next page</a>

Hint: Type the attribute that holds the address the link goes to.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A current ← "news.html"

B PRESS refresh TO "sport.html"

C PRESS back

D // current is now news.html

Line B — Refresh only reloads the current page. To reach a different page you follow a hyperlink, so the line should be FOLLOW link TO "sport.html".

Question 2

A PRESS forward

B // forward button now active

C PRESS forward

Line A — The forward button only works after you have gone back. The first step must be PRESS back, which is what makes forward available.

Question 3

A OPEN "scores.com"

B WAIT 60 SECONDS

C PRESS back

D // shows the latest scores

Line C — Back would go to the previous page. To load the newest version of the current page you press refresh (reload).

Question 4

A PRESS refresh

B currentPage ← homePage

C // back at the starting page

Line A — Refresh reloads the page you are already on. The home button takes the user to their starting page, so it should be PRESS home.

Question 5

A <a href="about.html">

B About us

C </link>

Line C — A hyperlink is an anchor element, so it must be closed with </a>. There is no </link> closing tag for a clickable link.

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