SEO
A recent study revealed that Google Chrome is the preferred browser for over 60% of internet users. This statistic emphasizes its widespread usage among the online community. For web developers, this popularity holds significant implications. Ensuring that applications run seamlessly on Google Chrome becomes a priority due to its dominant market share. Consequently, many developers choose Chrome as their primary browser.
What are the benefits of using Chrome Extensions?
Introduction:
In the vast landscape of internet browsers, Google Chrome stands out as the preferred choice for over 60% of internet users, making it a staple for web developers. Ensuring that web applications run seamlessly on Chrome is imperative for developers, given its widespread usage. To streamline your development experience, here’s a curated list of 26 must-have Chrome extensions for web developers. Let’s dive in.
What are the benefits of using Chrome Extensions?
1. Time-saving:
Chrome Extensions are designed for efficiency, providing quick access to essential functions without the need to open additional tabs or windows. This time-saving feature is especially valuable for tasks that require frequent attention or swift execution.
2. User-friendly:
With simplicity at their core, Chrome Extensions are user-friendly and don’t demand specialized knowledge. Installation, management, and utilization are seamless processes, enhancing the overall browsing experience without a steep learning curve.
3. Secure:
Benefiting from Google’s robust security measures, Chrome Extensions prioritize user data safety. Google’s security protocols safeguard against unauthorized access and potential threats, instilling confidence in users regarding the security of their online activities.
4. Customizable:
Chrome Extensions offer a high level of customization, enabling users to tailor their browsing experience to meet specific needs and preferences. This flexibility empowers users to choose extensions that align with their workflow and requirements.
5. Versatile:
The versatility of Chrome Extensions is a key advantage, serving a wide range of purposes. From simple browser updates to complex functionalities enhancing productivity and accessibility, these extensions contribute to an optimized browsing experience.
In summary, Chrome Extensions provide a seamless and customizable browsing experience, offering time-saving solutions that are secure and accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise. Their versatility makes them valuable tools for enhancing productivity and optimizing the way individuals, especially web developers, interact with the Chrome browser.
Must-Have Chrome Extensions for Web Developers:
11. Githunt
Type: Free
Githunt is a valuable Chrome extension for developers who frequent GitHub in search of interesting projects. Instead of relying on GitHub’s trending projects feed, Githunt highlights all trending projects in a new tab area in your browser. It allows you to search for projects in different languages, read brief project descriptions, and see the number of current open issues. This extension is particularly useful if you enjoy contributing to new projects.
Users: 4,000+
Rating: 3/5 for addressing a specific need in a niche.
[Get Started with Githunt](Githunt link)12. WhatFont
Type: Free
WhatFont is an indispensable Chrome extension for developers who need to identify fonts used on web pages quickly. It operates fast, effectively identifying individual fonts within a page in seconds. This extension not only identifies the font family but also provides information about size, weight, and color. Despite not being updated recently, it still functions perfectly.
Users: 1,000,000+
Rating: 3.5/5 for usability.
[Get Started with WhatFont](WhatFont link)13. Fonts Ninja
Type: Free
Fonts Ninja is a tool similar to WhatFont, offering an alternative for identifying fonts within a web page. It works in a comparable manner but with a smaller interface. After installation, you’ll see a small green ninja icon in your toolbar. Open a web page, select the icon, and hover over a font to identify it. This extension provides a simple yet effective way to discover and analyze fonts.
Users: 300,000+
Rating: 3.5/5 for usability.
[Get Started with Fonts Ninja](Fonts Ninja link)14. ColorPick Eyedropper
Type: Free
ColorPick Eyedropper is a neat zoomed selector for web pages. It swiftly identifies any color on a web page and zooms in, allowing you even to select a border just 1px wide. Although it might not be used daily, it proves to be an excellent tool for quickly pinpointing colors on a webpage. Upon installation, you can activate it by selecting the color wheel icon, and your cursor will transform into a crosshair for precise color identification.
Users: 1,000,000+
Rating: 3.5/5 for usability, 0 for UX design.
15. Window Resizer
Type: Free
Window Resizer is an incredibly useful Chrome extension for web developers, especially when working with responsive designs or apps. It simplifies the process by allowing you to resize any screen to popular screen sizes directly within Chrome. This extension is particularly valuable for developers working on responsive WordPress themes that need to look great on both desktop and mobile devices. It covers the most common sizes, including mobile, tablet, and desktop, and the emulation is highly accurate.
Users: 600,000+
Rating: 4.5/5 for usability and simplicity.
[Get Started with Window Resizer](Window Resizer link)16. BrowserStack
Type: Free
BrowserStack is another highly useful Chrome extension for web developers, especially when testing for responsiveness. Unlike Window Resizer, this extension focuses on testing with different browsers instead of screen sizes. Once installed, you can open your page in Chrome, select BrowserStack, and choose a device option from the tab. The extension renders the page using an emulation of a browser on that device. However, note that you need a BrowserStack account for it to work properly.
Users: 100,000+
Rating: 3/5 for usability; the requirement for an account is a mark against it.
[Get Started with BrowserStack](BrowserStack link)17. CSS Viewer
Type: Free
CSS Viewer is a simple yet effective Chrome extension for web developers. As the name suggests, it shows you the CSS properties of a given page wherever you hover your mouse. This small popup window appears, displaying the CSS data that makes up the element you’re pointing at. Whether you’re creating simple or complex WordPress themes, this extension makes it easy to identify key CSS properties with a simple mouse hover.
Users: 100,000+
Rating: 4/5 for simplicity and ease of use.
[Get Started with CSS Viewer](CSS Viewer link)18. Lorem Ipsum Generator
Type: Free
Lorem Ipsum Generator is one of the best Chrome extensions, period. It does precisely what its name suggests—generates filler text for demo websites. After installation, you can select it within a page, specify how much Lorem Ipsum copy you want to generate, and copy it from the window. This extension simplifies the process of adding placeholder text to your projects.
Users: 20,000+
Rating: 4/5 for ease of use.
19. Corporate Ipsum
Type: Free
Corporate Ipsum is a popular alternative to the Lorem Ipsum Generator. If you’re working on a business-oriented website and your client prefers more specific placeholder text, this Chrome developer extension is the solution. It generates Lorem Ipsum text but with a corporate twist. Like the Lorem Ipsum Generator, it’s a fast and simple way to generate business-oriented placeholder text.
Users: 10,000+
Rating: 4/5 for ease of use and for filling a specific need.
[Get Started with Corporate Ipsum](Corporate Ipsum link)20. Ghostery
Type: Free
Ghostery is a privacy-focused Chrome extension designed to enhance your browsing experience. While it doesn’t provide specific tools for web development, it blocks intrusive ads, stops tracking, prevents data collection, and blocks elements that might slow down your browsing. Although not a traditional web development tool, Ghostery is a must-install for maintaining a clean and fast browsing experience.
Users: 2,000,000+
Rating: 5/5 for effectiveness.
[Get Started with Ghostery](Ghostery link)21. Wappalyzer
Type: Free
Wappalyzer is a powerful tool for identifying the underlying technologies behind web pages. Upon installation, you can select it while on a page, and a popup window will appear, highlighting all identifiable apps running on that page. This extension is invaluable if you want to uncover the technologies used in a particular web development project.
Users: 1,000,000+
Rating: 4/5 for usefulness and clear UI.
[Get Started with Wappalyzer](Wappalyzer link)22. Clear Cache
Type: Free
Clear Cache is a handy Chrome developer extension for those times when you make changes and wonder why the modifications aren’t reflected on the screen. With this extension, you can easily clear the browser cache by selecting the small recycle icon in your browser. There are no confirmations or extra dialogs; the tool simply performs its function efficiently.
Users: 800,000+
Rating: 4.5/5 for simplicity.
23. HTML Validator
Type: Free
HTML Validator is a quick tool for checking your HTML within the browser. While there are numerous HTML tools available, HTML Validator is particularly useful for quickly validating markup directly within the browser. After installation, you can open a developer window on the page and navigate to the HTML Validator tab to view your HTML with errors displayed at the top.
Users: 30,000+
Rating: 4/5 for usability, though there’s a lot of competition in this space.
[Get Started with HTML Validator](HTML Validator link)24. JSON Viewer
Type: Free
JSON Viewer is an alternative to JSONView, designed to manage JSON data by providing a quickly recognizable hierarchy view in a browser window. It simplifies working with raw JSON data, making the code easier to absorb and use. This small but effective Chrome developer extension is well worth trying, with over 800,000 users and positive reviews.
Users: 800,000+
Rating: 4/5 for reliability and ease of use.
[Get Started with JSON Viewer](JSON Viewer link)25. ColorZilla
Type: Free
ColorZilla is a superb Chrome developer extension for color selection. It includes an eyedrop color selector, a color history tool, a CSS gradient analyzer, and a page analyzer that assesses colors on a web page. This extension is essential for anyone dealing with color on the web, providing a comprehensive set of tools for identifying and analyzing colors quickly.
Users: 2,000,000+
Rating: 4/5 for usability and productivity.
[Get Started with ColorZilla](ColorZilla link)26. Dimensions
Type: Free
Dimensions is a dynamic measurement tool that uses your mouse for quick measurements of spacing, dimensions, and gaps between page elements. After installation, you’ll see a small crosshair icon on your toolbar. Open a page in Chrome, select the icon, and a crosshair will appear on the screen. Move it around to measure elements, and you’ll see exact dimensions displayed. This simple yet effective tool is valuable for precise measurements during development.
Users: 100,000+
Rating: 4/5 for usability and productivity.
27. Page Ruler
Type: Free
Page Ruler is similar to Dimensions but excels in measuring the height and width of elements on a page. After selecting the ruler icon, you can draw around the element you want to measure, and the extension will present the exact measurements in a small popup box. While it may take a minute to figure out how to use it, Page Ruler is a valuable tool for precise measurements.
Users: 20,000+
Rating: 4.5/5 – simple but may take a minute to figure out.
[Get Started with Page Ruler](Page Ruler link)28. UX Check
Type: Free
UX Check is a usability analyzer that assesses a page using Nielsen’s 10 heuristics. It quickly highlights potential usability issues, allowing you to add notes, take screenshots, and export findings for sharing within the team. While not a replacement for in-depth user testing, UX Check serves as an effective first-pass test before comprehensive testing.
Users: 30,000+
Rating: 4/5 for productivity and ease of use.
[Get Started with UX Check](UX Check link)29. Check My Links
Type: Free
Check My Links does exactly what its name suggests—it’s a super-simple way to check for broken links on a page. Additionally, it can check for valid links and redirected links, making it a versatile tool for various web disciplines, including SEO. Once installed, you can select the checkmark icon in your toolbar, and a popup window will appear with all links assessed.
Users: 200,000+
Rating: 4.5/5 for usability across web disciplines.
[Get Started with Check My Links](Check My Links link)30. Web Developer Checklist
Type: Free
Who doesn’t love a checklist? Web Developer Checklist is a Chrome developer extension that provides a checklist of all the things that need to be completed on a page before publication. This tool is incredibly useful for busy developers, covering aspects like SEO, mobile responsiveness, usability, accessibility, social integration, and performance. It’s a lifesaver for ensuring best practices before publishing a website.
Users: 40,000+
Rating: 4/5 for ease of use and usefulness.
31. Checkbot
Type: Free
Checkbot operates similarly to the Web Developer Checklist, conducting a comprehensive examination of a page, checking for links, errors, security issues, performance concerns, SEO optimization, and more. This tool is exceptionally valuable for a final check before publishing.
Users: 30,000+
Rating: 4/5 for covering basic tools and incorporating fundamental security checks
[Get Started with Checkbot ](Checkbot link)32. Web Developer
Type: Free
Web Developer is a versatile suite of tools bundled into a single Chrome extension. Despite its title, ‘Web Developer,’ this tool is well-suited for general developers due to its array of useful features. With over 1,000,000 users, the extension has gained popularity, indicating its usefulness within the developer community.
Users: 1,000,000+
Rating: 4/5 for offering numerous tools for a variety of tasks
[Get Started with Web Developer ](Web Developer link)33. EditThisCookie
Type: Free
EditThisCookie proves to be an exceptionally useful Chrome extension for developers. It allows users to edit, delete, create, and protect cookies on a per-page basis. Additionally, it facilitates exporting cookies for analysis, blocking them, importing into JSON format, and provides an array of cookie-related functionalities.
Users: 2,000,000+
Rating: 3.5/5 for the sheer number of functions related to cookies
[Get Started with EditThisCookie ](EditThisCookie link)34. Lightshot
Type: Free
Lightshot is another versatile Chrome developer extension with potential uses for a broad audience. While developers may frequently use it, UX testers, user testers, instructors, graphic designers, and various users can create excellent screenshots with this tool.
Users: 1,000,000+
Rating: 4/5 for simplicity yet high effectiveness
35. Session Buddy
Type: Free
Session Buddy serves as a versatile tool suitable for developers and any web user. It acts as a ‘save it for later’ tool, allowing users to save all open tabs in a session for future access. This is particularly handy for preserving tabs to read later or safeguarding productivity with multiple open tabs.
Users: 1,000,000+
Rating: 4/5 for protecting against browser crashes and preserving open tabs
[Get Started with Session Buddy ](Session Buddy link)35. Daily.dev
Type: Free
Explore the convenience of daily.dev, a unique news aggregator that focuses on development news. It presents a page filled with news stories, blog posts, and valuable pages related to your chosen subject.
Daily.dev acts as both a start page and news aggregator. Each item on the page opens in a new tab, offering a mix of news, reviews, advice, how-tos, and essential content for developers who aim to stay current.
Users: 40,000+
Rating: 4/5 for protecting against browser crashes and preserving open tabs
[Get Started with Session Buddy ](daily.dev link)Closing Thoughts on the Best Chrome Extensions for Developers
The mentioned Chrome extensions represent some of the most valuable tools for web developers today. Incorporate these extensions into your workflow to streamline tasks and enhance efficiency. This collection aims to provide developers with new tools that contribute to increased productivity, problem-solving, and process optimization. To install these Chrome extensions go to chrome web store
The highlighted Chrome extensions aim to empower web developers by simplifying tasks, improving efficiency, and enhancing the overall development experience. These extensions contribute to a robust toolkit for modern web development.
