Six Handy Browser Shortcuts
Want to know a quick way to scroll down the page without the mouse? Or reopen a tab you closed by mistake? Here are six ways to move around your browser more efficiently.
- Press the spacebar to scroll down one screen. This allows you to read a page without having to keep scrolling the mouse or pressing the arrow key. About two lines from the previous page will be left on the new page so that you don't lose your place.
- Open a new tab by pressing Control-T. It's sure a lot easier than trying to hit the little plus button next to the tabs.
- Open a new window by pressing Control-N. You probably don't need a new window very often, but it's an easy shortcut to remember for when you do.
- In Chrome, open a new incognito window by pressing Control-Shift-N. (In Firefox, enter private browsing mode by pressing Control-Shift-P.) This doesn't save history, cookies, or anything else, so you don't leave any traces of where you've been when in private browsing mode. (Well, the web server can still collect information about your visit. But your computer stays free of any information.)
- Press Control-L to move your cursor to the address bar. This can save you reaching for the mouse when you're ready to visit a new site. It's especially handy in Chrome, where you can easily start a search from the address bar.
- Press Control-Shift-T to reopen a tab you just closed. This is really nice when you accidentally close a tab, or if after a few minutes you realize you weren't really done with that reference page. It sure beats having to open your browsing history and find it again.
--
Soren "scorchgeek" Bjornstad
http://thetechnicalgeekery.com
If you have found an error or notable omission in this tip, please leave a comment or email me: webmaster@thetechnicalgeekery.com.
Copyright 2011 Soren Bjornstad.
Verbatim copying and redistribution of part or all of this article
is permitted, provided this notice is preserved.