Bookmarklets are simple free tools that extend the capabilities of web browsers. The term bookmarklet is a combination of the words bookmark and applet. Bookmarklets work in virtually any JavaScript-enabled browser and on any platform (Windows, Mac, etc). You do not have to download or install any additional software to use bookmarklets.
Bookmarklets are tiny JavaScript programs stored as bookmarks. Bookmarklets have access to the current page. Consequently, they can be simple "one-click" tools which add functionality to your browser, in the same manner as the typical browser add-on/extension.
You often have the choice of using either a browser-specific add-on/extension or a bookmarklet to perform the same function. In such cases, because I use multiple browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and IE) on both Mac and Windows machines, I almost always opt for the bookmarklet. Syncing bookmarks across my browsers (using Xmarks) means that once I've added a bookmarklet in any one browser, I now have access to that functionality in all my browsers. I don't have to try to locate add-ons for each browser (if any even exist) and install them individually.
Typically, a bookmarklet won't lose it's ability to function if your browser upgrades as can sometimes happen with add-ons. Adding a bookmarklet won't require a browser restart, either. Bookmarklets have a negligible effect on your browser's memory use since they are only executed on demand.
Bookmarklets are typically installed by dragging the bookmarklet onto your browser's link toolbar or by right-clicking the link, then clicking the bookmark option.
Here are links to some popular bookmarklets you might find useful ...
- bit.ly
- is.gd!
- Instapaper
- Read It Later
- Readability
- LiveBinders
- Sqworl
- Evernote
- Google Notebook
- Delicious
- Diigo
- Tumblr
- Blog This! (Blogger)
There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of bookmarklets available for many uses. You might like to visit Collection of Google Bookmarklets for bookmarklets related to a number of Google services.
1 comment:
Bookmarklets make my life easier in so many ways. In addition to your fantastic list, I also really like SimplyBox and Alexa bookmarklets. I use them both daily.
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