Address bar

In a web browser, the address bar (also location bar or URL bar) is the element that shows the current URL. The user can type a URL into it to navigate to a chosen website. In most modern browsers, non-URLs are automatically sent to a search engine. In a file browser, it serves the same purpose of navigation, but through the file-system hierarchy.

Many address bars offer features like autocomplete and a list of suggestions while the address is being typed in. This auto-completion feature bases its suggestions on the browser's history. Some browsers have keyboard shortcuts to auto-complete an address.

Features

In addition to the URL, some address bars feature icons showing features or information about the site. For

Most web browsers allow for the use of a search engine if the term typed in is not clearly a URL.

Web browsers often include a feature called Smart Bookmarks. In this feature, the user sets a command that allows for a function (such as searching, editing, or posting) of a website to be expedited. Then, a keyword or term associated with the command is typed into the address bar followed by entering the term afterwards or selecting the command from a list.

In some browsers, such as Opera and Safari, the address bar can double as a progress bar that indicates how much of the contents of the page has been loaded.

Comparisons

The following sections compare address bar widgets for a few well-known web browsers.

Firefox

Opera

Internet Explorer

Microsoft Edge

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Google Chrome

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See also

Look up address bar in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

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References