Message "To display this page, Firefox must send information that will repeat any action (such as a search or order confirmation) that was performed earlier." Keeps Popping Up . I've tried just about everything I find in the message boards, forums and nothing works for me. Please help. FF3.0.10, XP
Part of the problem is that current Firefox browser assumes that POST request responses are uncacheable in all circumstances. The reality is that many web applications use POST method forms to generate temporary content pages. Post/Redirect/Get purists can argue that this is always bad practice and that web application developers should know better. But even the purists cannot deny that many average Firefox users are confused and upset with what they consider persistent, annoying, and unnecessary warnings.
Yes, in some cases these dialog pop-ups are necessary to warn users about resubmitting a post, such as a duplicate order. And yes, if re-submit is to occur, the user should be warned. But, in many cases back button/navigation form resubmits can be avoided and cached response page used instead. A browser should allow web application developers do decide whether caching a response page to a POST request is appropriate.
According to RFC 2616 Section 9.5:
Responses to [POST] method are not cacheable, UNLESS the response includes appropriate Cache-Control or Expires header fields.
Right now, Firefox 3.0.10 ignores Cache-Control and Expires headers on POST request responses. Instead it is forcing user to either cancel back button action or resubmit the form....
Edited: I stand corrected. Firefox is not to be blamed for the back button problems I'm experiencing. As it turns out, one of the extensions I have installed was causing cache handling irregularities. Upon updating this extension the problem was solved. See full explanation in my post below.