prevent the back button from being used?

[NZ_Kiwis]

Is there a way?

[theelectricwiz]

I don't think there is. Why are you wanting to? GO KIWIS! cough cough

[Piranha]

I don't know if there is a way at all. But I do know that if there is a way you can't count on it, all browsers won't handle it the same way. So if for example you want to make sure a form is not submitted again you have to solve it another way.

[leatherback]

there are lots of hacks (http://forums.sun.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3779070) but you should use them as is it bad from a usability point of view & will only work half of the time. Redesign your dataflow instead