angularjs getting previous route path

Question

<h1>{{header}}</h1> <!-- This Back button has multiple option --> <!-- In home page it will show menu --> <!-- In other views it will show back link --> <a ng-href="{{back.url}}">{{back.text}}</a> <div ng-view></div> 

In my module config

  $routeProvider.   when('/', {     controller:HomeCtrl,     templateUrl:'home.html'   }).   when('/menu', {     controller:MenuCtrl,     templateUrl:'menu.html'   }).   when('/items', {     controller:ItemsCtrl,     templateUrl:'items.html'   }).   otherwise({     redirectto:'/'   }); 

Controllers

function HomeCtrl($scope, $rootScope){   $rootScope.header = "Home";   $rootScope.back = {url:'#/menu', text:'Menu'}; }  function MenuCtrl($scope, $rootScope){   $rootScope.header = "Menu";   $rootScope.back = {url:'#/', text:'Back'}; }  function ItemsCtrl($scope, $rootScope){   $rootScope.header = "Items";   $rootScope.back = {url:'#/', text:'Back'}; } 

As you can see in my controllers I have hard coded the back button url and text (Actually I don't need the text as using an image). In this way I found back button navigate incorrectly in some cases. I cannot use history.back() coz my back button changes to a menu link in home view.

So my question is how do I get the previous route path in controllers or is better way to achieve this ?

I have created a Plunker demonstration of my problem. Please check that.

Answer 1

This alternative also provides a back function.

The template:

<a ng-click='back()'>Back</a> 

The module:

myModule.run(function ($rootScope, $location) {      var history = [];      $rootScope.$on('$routeChangeSuccess', function() {         history.push($location.$$path);     });      $rootScope.back = function () {         var prevUrl = history.length > 1 ? history.splice(-2)[0] : "/";         $location.path(prevUrl);     };  }); 

Answer 2

Use the $locationChangeStart or $locationChangeSuccess events, 3rd parameter:

$scope.$on('$locationChangeStart',function(evt, absNewUrl, absOldUrl) {    console.log('start', evt, absNewUrl, absOldUrl); }); $scope.$on('$locationChangeSuccess',function(evt, absNewUrl, absOldUrl) {    console.log('success', evt, absNewUrl, absOldUrl); });