12

I know Ctrl+L moves focus to the browser address bar, and I use it all the time across browsers. What would be useful though, on sites such as this one, Amazon, or even Google, is a shortcut which moves directly to the "main" search bar at the top of the page. Is there such a thing?

enter image description here

enter image description here

enter image description here

1
  • 1
    I also specifically want a "search" inside the amazon website: the "/" does not work. What are they thinking? Apr 1, 2022 at 1:00

8 Answers 8

11

Not in every situation but / (slash) works on a lot of websites like Google pages (Youtube, Gmail, Drive, Photos...), Facebook, Twitter... and brings you to that page's search box

/ - Search

How can I navigate Facebook with keyboard shortcuts?


In Github you can even see the / shortcut on the search box

Github search box

s or /: Focus the search bar. For more information, see "About searching on GitHub."

Keyboard shortcuts


Same to JIRA:

JIRA shortcut

See Jira - Using Keyboard Shortcuts


Infoplus:

Tip: Use the Forward Slash (/) to Access Quick Search


It also works in Google after searching: Shortcut for Google search box

Google press / to jump to search box


/ is also the shortcut for "quick find" in Firefox.
If you want to do the same in Chrome you'll need SlashSearch

This key probably comes from several Unix command line tools (lile less or vi) where / is the search feature

7

Since you are using chrome, the closest thing I can think of is using an extension called vimium.

  1. You press "f," it shows a letter (or two) in front of every field on the page.
  2. You press that letter, and it simulates a click.

This way can achieve the desired outcome of using a shortcut to jump to the search bar, but this shortcut changes from page to page.

example : in this case you press: f followed by d vimium chrome extension

2
  • 2
    The OP also tags Firefox and there are similar extensions like Vimium-FF
    – phuclv
    Aug 16, 2019 at 3:46
  • this ROCKS. I specifically used it for amazon per the OP Apr 1, 2022 at 1:04
2

If you're using Firefox, you could go to about:config and configure accessibility:tabfocus to 1. See here for more details: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Accessibility.tabfocus

This will force the Tab key to give focus to text fields only so most of the time, just once or few presses of the Tab key directs it to the search bar and other text fields.

2

Firefox

  1. Jump to address bar: Ctrl+L
  2. Input search engine keyword: @<search-engine><Enter>
  3. Input search query

Tip: Firefox has auto-completion after inputting @ symbol. A relative drop-down menu appears below the address bar that shows your choices.

Search Settings

Add, change, or remove search engines and keywords: about:preferences#search

Examples

Default Search Engine: Ctrl+L@TAB the BeatlesEnter

Amazon: Ctrl+L@AmazonSpace Beatles submarineEnter

DuckDuckGo: Ctrl+L@dTab Beatles memorabiliaEnter

Pros & Cons

Pros

- This will work for any search engine that can be added into Firefox in preferences.
- Defaults come with Firefox: Amazon, Google, Bing, eBay, DuckDuckGo, Wikipedia

Cons

- This doesn't work with websites outside of what you can add-on in Firefox's preferences.

You can workaround this con through:

  1. / or Ctrl+F search features by searching for a keyword on the webpage that sits adjacent to the search bar then Tabbing over. Use ShiftTab to tab backwards.

  2. Use Google's site operator in search bar to search a given domain. site:github.com avr assembly

1

This userscript adds a slash keypress event listener for google search pages.

You can use it with Tampermonkey in most modern browsers.

1

Use an Extension

If using Chrome, simply install Search Box Focus. It allows you to set your own custom shortcut and works basically everywhere. On any website that has a search bar.

0

depending on how you use your browser.

i. e. Google Chrome accepts it by using F6 as any default browser for the Adress Bar, any text for them will redirected to the default search engine

0

you can use "Tab". After you type the website on address bar. for example: www.google.com then press TAB

1
  • 1
    This is what to do when you are in the address bar, not how to get to it from a browser view. May 3, 2021 at 16:09

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .