A method for improving backward and forward web browser performance is described. In one embodiment, backward and forward web performance is enhanced by ignoring unload handler scripts and caching web pages. Web elements with unload handler scripts are examined. In a first pass, if the web page elements are not determined to be significant, then the related unload handler scripts can be ignored, enabling the web page to be cached. In a second pass, if the web page element is significant, but the unload handler script is determined to be insignificant, then the unload handler script can be ignored and the web page can be cached.