A process controls navigation and presentation of digital resources on a computer device. Identifying parameters for digital resources are stored as a set of digital resources, including an ordered set of digital resources. When receiving an instruction to navigate between resources, it is determined whether the first and second resources meet criteria that will enable a visually smooth navigation between the resources by transitioning from a first digital resource to a second digital resource without clearing all of the displayed elements of the first digital resource. The smooth navigation is performed by sending an identifier of the second digital resource to a history of a resource viewing component (e.g., a browser) and triggering a pop-state event in the resource viewing component that causes the resource viewing component to complete the desired smooth navigation.