When you want to seek for one thing, what do you do? Extra possible than not, you answered, “I kind a search string within the tackle bar and hit Enter to view Google’s outcomes.” Though that is likely to be the way in which most individuals search, there are others who do not like the concept of an built-in search and URL bar, or those that’d favor to make use of a search engine aside from Google.
Again within the days of dinosaurs and 33.6k modems, we needed to truly first go to google.com, yahoo.com, altavista.com, dogpile.com, or excite.com, manually chisel our search string into stone tablets, and hope the gods would smile upon us with the outcomes we had been on the lookout for. We did not have built-in search bars or a one-true-search-engine-to-rule-them-all.
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Now, we’ve got choices.
Fortunately, Firefox permits you to search the way you need. So as an alternative of an built-in tackle bar, you may separate the URL and search features, in addition to select which search engine you wish to use by default.
Why would you need a separate search and tackle bar?
I’ve one very helpful motive for that.
Kind zdnet.com in your tackle bar and you will wind up on the ZDNET web site. However what in case you needed to do a little analysis on ZDNET.com? You can go to google.com, kind zdnet.com within the search discipline, and be offered with all types of data. With the separate search bar, you possibly can merely kind zdnet.com into the sphere and hit Enter to show those self same outcomes.
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You see, it doesn’t matter what you kind within the separate search bar, it is going to be seen as a search string and nothing else. On prime of which, the separate search bar will even give you ideas associated to the search.
For instance, in case you kind zdnet.com within the search bar and hit Enter, you may then hover over the magnifying glass to disclose a drop-down. Click on the drop-down and you will see associated searches. Inside the outcomes, you will even be offered with choices that you need to use to look the string.
Though it may not be as handy as an built-in tackle bar, it does offer you extra choices. If you’re severe about your searches, and that is a superb factor.
Let me present you how one can configure the Firefox search function to higher suit your wants.
Tips on how to separate the search bar
What you will want: The one factor you will want is the Firefox browser put in. It would not matter the platform you are utilizing (I will exhibit on Pop!_OS), simply as long as the browser is up to date and operating correctly.
That is it. Let’s configure your search.
Opening the Firefox Settings window from the drop-down menu. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Within the Firefox Settings window, click on the Search entry within the left navigation.
Click on Search to find this part of the Settings window. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Within the ensuing window, click on to allow Add search bar in toolbar. You do not have to click on a Save button, because the change will occur mechanically.
Enabling the separate Search Bar in Firefox. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
At this level, it is best to now see separate tackle and search bars within the Firefox toolbar.
Separate tackle and search bars will higher swimsuit some individuals. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Tips on how to change your default search engine
Return to Settings > Search and you will see the Default Search Engine part with a drop-down that most likely signifies Google because the default. Click on that drop-down and you may choose from Amazon, Bing, DuckDuckGo, eBay, Google, and Wikipedia.
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My most well-liked search engine is DuckDuckGo, as a result of they’re extra privacy-based than Google (by a protracted shot). Nevertheless, it is best to choose the search engine that most closely fits your wants.
Deciding on your required search engine for Firefox. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
In that very same part (under the search drop-down), you can even customise search ideas, by enabling or disabling the next:
- Present search ideas.
- Present search ideas in tackle bar outcomes.
- Present search ideas forward of searching historical past in tackle bar outcomes.
- Present search ideas in Personal Home windows.
I go away every part as default (so all however Present search ideas in Personal Home windows is enabled).
As soon as you have taken care of that, shut out the Settings tab and also you’re accomplished. Now you can take pleasure in a Firefox search expertise that’s higher suited to your wants.
Blissful looking!
