In the context of theWorld Wide Web, abookmark is aUniform Resource Identifier (URI) that is stored for later retrieval in any of various storage formats. All modernweb browsers includebookmark features. Bookmarks are calledfavorites orInternet shortcuts inInternet Explorer andMicrosoft Edge, and by virtue of that browser's largemarket share, these terms have been synonymous withbookmark since theFirst Browser War.[1] Bookmarks are normally accessed through a menu in the user's web browser, andfolders are commonly used for organization. In addition to bookmarking methods within most browsers, many external applications offerbookmarks management.
Bookmarks have been incorporated in browsers since theViolaWWW browser in 1992,[2] andMosaic browser in 1993.[3] Bookmark lists were calledHotlists in Mosaic[4] and in previous versions ofOpera; this term has faded from common use.Cello, another early browser, also had bookmarking features.
With the advent ofsocial bookmarking, shared bookmarks have become a means for users sharing similar interests to pool web resources, or to store their bookmarks in such a way that they are not tied to one specific computer or browser. Web-based bookmarking services let users save bookmarks on a remote web server, accessible from anywhere.
Newer browsers have expanded the "bookmark" feature to include variations on the concept of saving links.Mozilla Firefox introducedlive bookmarks in 2004,[5] which resemble standard bookmarks but contain a list of links to recent articles supplied by a news site orweblog, which is regularly updated viaRSS feeds; however, Mozilla removed this feature in 2018.[6] "Bookmarklets" areJavaScript programs stored as bookmarks that can be clicked to perform a function.
Each browser has a built-in tool for managing the list of bookmarks. The list storage method varies, depending on the browser, its version, and the operating system on which it runs.
Netscape browsers store bookmarks in the single HTML-coded filebookmarks.html. This approach permits publication and printing of a categorized and indented catalog, and works across platforms. Bookmark names need not be unique. Editing this file outside its native browser requires editing HTML.
Fordata portability andinteroperability, most modern Web browsers support importing from and exporting to the Netscape bookmarks.html format.
Beginning withFirefox 3,Mozilla Corporation began usingSQLite in browser releases to store bookmarks, history, cookies, and preferences in a transactionally secure database.
Internet Explorer's "Favorites" (also "Internet Shortcuts") are stored as individual files named with the original link name, and the filename extension ".URL",[7] for example "Home Page.URL" collected in a directory named "Favorites" which may have subdirectories. Bookmark names must be unique within a folder. Each file contains the original URL and Microsoft-specificmetadata. Browsers have varying abilities to import and export bookmarks to favorites, and vice versa.[8][9][10]
Bookmarklets areJavaScript programs stored as bookmarks. The term is aportmanteau of the wordsbookmark andapplet. Bookmarklets are possible because the JavaScriptURI scheme allows JavaScript programs to be stored as URIs, which can be stored in bookmarks. Bookmarklets have access to the current page, which they may inspect and change. As such, they can be simple "one-click" tools which add functionality to the browser. Bookmarklets are typically installed by navigating to a web page that links to a JavaScript URI, right-clicking the link, and clicking the bookmark option.
Web developer Steve Kangas got the idea from theNetscape JavaScript Guide,[11] and coined the termbookmarklets in 1998.[12]Brendan Eich, the inventor of JavaScript, explained bookmarklets as follows:
They were a deliberate feature in this sense: I invented the
#"/wiki/Simon_Willison" title="Simon Willison">Simon Willison[13]
Live bookmarks are Internet bookmarks powered byRSS, particularly inMozilla Firefox. They allow users to dynamically monitor changes to their favorite news sources. Instead of treating RSS-feeds as HTML pages like mostnews aggregators do, they are treated as bookmarks that are updated in real-time with a link to the appropriate source. Live bookmarks are updated automatically; however, no browser option exists to prevent or control the automatic live bookmark updates.
Live bookmarks were available in Firefox from 2004 until December 2018; since then, Firefox no longer supports them.[6]
TheBookmarks bar, also known as theFavorites bar in Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer, is a graphical user interface (GUI) element in modern web browsers that provides quick access to frequently visited or saved websites. Positioned directly beneath the address bar by default, it allows users to store, organize, and retrieve bookmarks with minimal effort.[14]
