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Instant Back/Forward

By Weston Ruter

Performance & Optimization / Caching Solutions

Instant Back/Forward Review - In-Depth Analysis

Enables back/forward cache for instant navigation even with 'nocache' headers. Improves user experience by speeding up page loads.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.73/10

User Rating

5/5 (based on 1+ reviews)

Active Installations

10,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

1 / 10 (Very Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

This plugin enables instant back/forward navigation via the browser's bfcache. It removes the no-store directive from the Cache-Control response header, which WordPress sends by default when nocache_headers() is called. This primarily occurs when a user is logged in, but some plugins may also send these no-cache headers.

Upon activation, to see the effect, you must log out of WordPress and log back in again, ensuring 'Remember Me' is checked. The removal of no-store will speed up back/forward navigations since pages may then be served from the browser's HTTP cache.

Normally, WordPress sends a Cache-Control header with the no-store directive when a user is logged in. This breaks the browser's bfcache, requiring pages to be re-fetched from the server. This can lead to sluggish navigation experiences. The plugin addresses this issue while maintaining privacy safeguards.

Comparing to Alternatives

Instant Back/Forward offers a unique approach to caching by focusing on browser back and forward navigation, differing from traditional caching plugins.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Improves user experience by speeding up back/forward navigation.
Lightweight and easy to install without complex configuration.
Does not interfere with standard caching mechanisms.

Weaknesses

Limited scope compared to full-featured caching plugins.
Lacks advanced caching options and customization.
No premium version with extended features.

User Sentiment Analysis

User feedback highlights the plugin's effectiveness and simplicity, though some desire more features.

Positive highlights

"This is now a 'must install' plugin for me on every site I work on. It’s absolutely magical." - Topher

Common complaints

Limited functionality compared to comprehensive caching plugins.
No updates or support for advanced caching needs.

Weaknesses

No pro version to unlock additional features.
May not address all caching requirements for complex sites.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users looking for a simple, lightweight solution to improve browser back and forward navigation speed without complex setup.

Not ideal for

Those needing full-site caching solutions with extensive customization and advanced performance optimization features.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version provides essential functionality to enhance back and forward browser navigation speed without any cost or premium upsell.

Final Verdict

Instant Back/Forward is a niche plugin that excels at improving user experience during browser navigation with minimal setup.

While it lacks the breadth of features found in full caching plugins, its simplicity and effectiveness make it a valuable addition for specific use cases.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free Instant Back/Forward plugin.

back/forward cache

bfcache

instant navigation

Screenshots

FAQ

Please see the Stale Content in Page Caches section of the above blog post.

Pantheon sites have a must-use plugin which includes some Page Cache functionality. When a user is logged in, it is currently sending a Cache-Control: no-cache, no-store, must-revalidate response header. This prevents bfcache from working. A pull request has been opened to fix this, but in the meantime you may work around the issue by preventing this header from being sent with the following plugin code:

// Workaround for Pantheon MU plugin sending Cache-Control: no-store which prevents bfcache. // See https://github.com/pantheon-systems/pantheon-mu-plugin/pull/94 add_filter(     'pantheon_skip_cache_control',     static function (): bool {         return is_admin() || is_user_logged_in();     } );