Back link

Date adopted: 
January 17, 2018
Last update: 
October 26, 2020

Why use this pattern?

Use a back link to help users go back to the previous page in a multi-page transaction.

When to use a back link

Always include a back link in multi-page transactional services.

Place a back link under the primary and secondary buttons on a page.

When not to use a back link

Never use a back link together with breadcrumbs. If necessary, you should do research with your users to learn which option they find more helpful in your service.

How it works

Make sure the link takes users to the previous page they were on, in the state they last saw it.

Where possible, ensure it works even when JavaScript is not available. If this is not possible, you should hide the back link when JavaScript is not available.