Types of browser extensions
Tags: webdev, beginners
Published: 2022-08-10 04:47:09

Browser extensions are a great way of customizing our browser experience.
I've already written down my [top 10 Chrome extensions for developers](https://daily-dev-tips.com/posts/top-10-chrome-extensions-for-developers/).

I want to start a small series on browser extensions and before diving into how to build one, let's look at what kind of extensions we can even create.

I found this information super hard to find, and there is no definitive source.
I've done my research and found a collection of the ones mentioned in this article.

> Note: They might be more, and I would love to hear if that's the case

Summary of what we'll be going through today.

- Themes
- New tab
- Pop-up
- On-page injection
- DevTools

> Sub note: I'll mostly look at Chrome as it's the most extended one, but most of these are also available for firefox and edge.

## Browser extensions themes

This one is often overlooked, but you can provide a theme for the browser.
This is considered a browser extension as well.

You give the end user a custom theme like we are used in our editors.

A theme is still an extension but without HTML and JavaScript.

[View all Chrome themes](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/themes?hl=en-GB)

It's also possible to apply customization in the Chrome new tab.
This comes with color and background options to make Chrome pop a bit more.

![Chrome customization](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1659254192059/d-LrfaeQv.png)

## New tab browser extensions

The new tab is your home front in any browser, and there are a lot of cool apps to make that new tab super valuable.

The best one, of course, is [daily.dev](https://daily.dev/).

But it's not limited to that. There is a rise in these fantastic new tab experience apps.

To me, these are super helpful apps that depending on why you use Chrome, can help make it more productive.

[Overview of some new tab extensions on Chrome](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/collection/customize_your_new_tab_page)

## Pop-up browser extensions

Another type of extension is the pop-up extension, which you see a lot.

They add an icon in your browser's tab bar, and they fire a pop-up with some extensions on click.

Some examples you might know include:

- [Lighthouse](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/lighthouse/blipmdconlkpinefehnmjammfjpmpbjk)
- [Developer toolbar](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/web-developer/bfbameneiokkgbdmiekhjnmfkcnldhhm)
- [Metamask](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/metamask/nkbihfbeogaeaoehlefnkodbefgpgknn)

They generally provide action for that page and give the user a shortcut to a specific action.

![Chrome popup extension](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1659254966563/8tJZsb2s1.png)

## On-page injection extensions

Another type of extension is the one that injects on certain pages.

They often provide actions for particular content for example:

- [Redux devtools](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/redux-devtools/lmhkpmbekcpmknklioeibfkpmmfibljd) (on pages that use redux)
- [Black magic](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/blackmagicso-extension/efnjehgfpbogpclnkikafpbgbahaflfd) (on Twitter)
- [JSON viewer](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/json-viewer/gbmdgpbipfallnflgajpaliibnhdgobh) (on JSON pages)

But they can also fire on all pages, this often requires a click, but some examples are text audit, accessibility tools, and so on.

![On page wave extensions tool](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1659255624403/GwMW3e2hl.png)

## DevTools extensions

One type of extension I wasn't aware of before diving into this research article was DevTools!

You can create an extension that can show up in the DevTools of a browser.

Some examples are:

- [React devtools](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/react-developer-tools/fmkadmapgofadopljbjfkapdkoienihi)
- [Polymer devtools](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/polymer-devtools-extensio/mmpfaamodhhlbadloaibpocmcomledcg)
- [Ember inspector](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ember-inspector/bmdblncegkenkacieihfhpjfppoconhi)

## Conclusion

There are a lot of different browser extensions we can create that will enhance the user's experience within the browser.

Seeing we are growing into more and more of an online world, it's a great time to start exploring what kind of browser extensions you could create to help people.

I plan to write some more articles on how to create these and what options they give us.

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