How work history of web browser under the hood - algorithm

Question

I am trying to implement my own web browser history for WKWebView on iOS, but I can't implement this functionality completely, and each time I obtain trouble.
I can create a history where the user did be and then moving forward and backward inside history.
But I have next trouble, and I think it an only one of many problems on my way.
When I have a history with for example 10 elements, and then I am moving back to element number 5 and then go don't forward but try to open the new link I can't remove element 6-10 and put the new link.
I think my problem that I can't fully understand how history work inside all browsers under the hood, this is not a hard task but I am confused inside this algorithm.
My main data structure for holding history
Help me understand how to work this algorithm inside browsers or maybe exist a good theory about it?

Answer 1

I have solved this problem and realize the full algorithm well, the completed project available here: https://github.com/IhorYachmenov/Custom-browser-history-for-WKWebView.
Algorithm:
struct PlayerHistory {
static var shared = PlayerHistory()
var historyExist: Bool = false
var historyCurrentPosition: Int = 0
var historyLastPositionBeforeUpdatingHistory: Int!
var userHistoryKey: String!
var backPressed: Bool!
var forwardPressed: Bool!
var urlOfPlayer: String!
// Function only for first loading inside <viewDidLoad or another method from app LifeCycle>.
mutating func getUrlForFirstLoading(initURL: String, key: String) -> String {
urlOfPlayer = initURL
guard HistoryStorage.shared.getHistoryFromUserDefaults() != nil else {
updateFirstElement(key: key, url: initURL)
return initURL
}
guard HistoryStorage.shared.getHistoryFromUserDefaults()![key] != nil else {
return initURL
}
let position = HistoryStorage.shared.getHistoryFromUserDefaults()![key]!.count - 1
historyExist = true
historyCurrentPosition = position
userHistoryKey = key
let initUrlFromHistoryStorage = HistoryStorage.shared.getHistoryFromUserDefaults()![key]!.last!.url
return initUrlFromHistoryStorage
}
// Create new or update exist history, use this method indsede <decidePolicyForNavigation>.
mutating func updatePlayerHistory(backlisk: [String], key: String) {
var history = [WebViewHistory]()
for i in backlisk {
history.append(WebViewHistory(i))
}
if (historyExist == true) {
// If old history exist need compound both and then to save.
let oldHistory = HistoryStorage.shared.getHistoryFromUserDefaults()![key]
let oldAndNewHostoryTogether = oldHistory! + history
var keyValuePair = Dictionary<String, [WebViewHistory]>()
keyValuePair.updateValue(oldAndNewHostoryTogether, forKey: key)
HistoryStorage.shared.removeHistory()
HistoryStorage.shared.saveHistory(keyValuePair)
setCurrentPosition(url: backlisk.last!, key: key)
} else {
var keyValuePair = Dictionary<String, [WebViewHistory]>()
keyValuePair.updateValue(history, forKey: key)
historyExist = true
HistoryStorage.shared.removeHistory()
HistoryStorage.shared.saveHistory(keyValuePair)
setCurrentPosition(url: backlisk.last!, key: key)
}
}
// Before using this method check if result don't equals nil. Use this method for navigation beetween history
func moveThroughHistory(key: String, direction: Bool) -> String? {
guard historyExist != false else {
return nil
}
let history = HistoryStorage.shared.getHistoryFromUserDefaults()![key]!
if (direction == true) {
let index = historyCurrentPosition + 1
guard index != history.count else { return nil }
return history[index].url
} else {
let index = historyCurrentPosition - 1
guard index > 0 else { return history[0].url }
return history[index].url
}
}
// Method <setCurrentPosition> each time set position at history
mutating func setCurrentPosition(url: String, key: String) {
guard HistoryStorage.shared.getHistoryFromUserDefaults() != nil else { return }
guard HistoryStorage.shared.getHistoryFromUserDefaults()![key] != nil else { return }
let history = HistoryStorage.shared.getHistoryFromUserDefaults()![key]
let index = history?.firstIndex(of: WebViewHistory(url))
guard index != nil else {
historyCurrentPosition = 0
return
}
historyCurrentPosition = index!
}
// <removeUnusedPeaceOfHistory> need use when user want open new page staying inside the middle of history
mutating func removeUnusedPeaceOfHistory(key: String) {
guard HistoryStorage.shared.getHistoryFromUserDefaults() != nil else {
return
}
guard HistoryStorage.shared.getHistoryFromUserDefaults()![key] != nil else {
return
}
var history = HistoryStorage.shared.getHistoryFromUserDefaults()![key]!
let startIndex = historyCurrentPosition + 1
let endIndex = history.endIndex - 1
let countOfAllElements = history.count
guard startIndex != countOfAllElements else { return }
let range = startIndex...endIndex
history.removeSubrange(range)
var keyValuePair = Dictionary<String, [WebViewHistory]>()
keyValuePair.updateValue(history, forKey: key)
HistoryStorage.shared.removeHistory()
HistoryStorage.shared.saveHistory(keyValuePair)
}
// Use <updateFirstElement> inside <getUrlForFirstLoading> if history doesn't exist
private mutating func updateFirstElement(key: String, url: String) {
var history = [WebViewHistory]()
history.insert(WebViewHistory(url), at: 0)
var keyValuePair = Dictionary<String, [WebViewHistory]>()
keyValuePair.updateValue(history, forKey: key)
HistoryStorage.shared.saveHistory(keyValuePair)
historyExist = true
historyCurrentPosition = 0
}
// Use <webViewWillBeClosedSaveHistory> when WKWebView should be closed, if the user moves through history new position will be saved.
mutating func webViewWillBeClosedSaveHistory(key: String) {
let history = HistoryStorage.shared.getHistoryFromUserDefaults()![key]!
let currentPosition = historyCurrentPosition + 1
guard currentPosition != history.count else { return }
removeUnusedPeaceOfHistory(key: key)
}
}