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Does anyone know the difference between Alt+D, Ctrl+L, F6, [list any if you know others] to access the omnibar in google chrome?

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This is a kind of localized question, since those shortcuts, at least not Alt+D and F6, works on Chrome on Mac. On Mac, you have to use ⌘+L (Cmd+L). – Lasse V. Karlsen Jul 25 '11 at 21:20
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Chances are that there is no difference at all and they just made so many shortcuts so that people who are familiar with other browsers would be able to guess right the first time.

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I believe that F6 originally comes from Windows Explorer, while Ctrl+L has its origins in Unix/Linux. So it's perhaps a platform issue. – DisgruntledGoat May 20 '11 at 12:03
What does F6 do in Windows Explorer? (doesn't do anything for me) – Pacerier Sep 25 '11 at 17:00
@Pacerier In Windows, F6 and Shift+F6 are standard shortcuts for going to the next or previous pane of a window. Try out F6 in an Explorer window with both the Folders pane and the Address bar turned on. For me, it cycles between them. – Bavi_H Sep 25 '11 at 18:09
@Bavi_H Isn't it the same functionality as what <kbd>Tab</kbd> does ? – Pacerier Sep 25 '11 at 19:30
@Pacerier In Explorer, yes, Tab and F6 do the same thing. But, for example, in a text editor that lets you split the document into panes (like Visual Studio), F6 will cycle through the panes, but Tab will type a tab character. – Bavi_H Sep 27 '11 at 0:36
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up vote 1 down vote accepted

Wow I've just realised the difference. I've always used Ctrl + L but today that key combination didn't work. I had to use Alt + D instead.

The difference is in the keys themselves. Ctrl + L requires us to hit the keys Ctrl + L, Alt + D requires us to hit the keys Alt + D, and F6 requires us to hit the keys F6.

In other words, Ctrl will not work in some parts of the application that "eats" up the Ctrl keyboard event. Try this for yourself. Hit F12, and while your cursor is in the code box, Ctrl + L will fail to acquire the omnibar, but not Alt + D

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