Google's Chrome browser is currently testing a new feature called "Omnibox Toolbelt," which introduces a row of shortcut buttons beneath the address bar as users begin typing. This functionality closely mirrors a feature already present in Microsoft Edge, where users can filter searches by History, Favorites, or Tabs directly from the address bar.
In Microsoft Edge, these shortcuts enhance user efficiency by allowing quick access to specific content categories without navigating through menus. Similarly, Chrome's Omnibox Toolbelt aims to streamline the browsing experience by providing visible shortcuts labeled "Your Tools," including options like "Search Bookmarks," "Search Tabs," and "Search History." While Chrome previously supported similar searches through manual keyword commands such as @history, @tabs, and @bookmarks, the new feature simplifies this process by offering intuitive, clickable buttons.
This development underscores the ongoing exchange of features between Chrome and Edge, both of which are built on the Chromium engine. Microsoft's significant contributions to the Chromium project facilitate this cross-pollination of ideas, leading to enhancements that benefit users of both browsers.
As of now, the Omnibox Toolbelt is in the experimental phase and not yet available as a Chrome flag. Users interested in testing this feature may need to wait for its rollout in Chrome's Canary builds.
This trend of adopting and refining features across browsers highlights the competitive yet collaborative nature of browser development, ultimately aiming to provide users with more efficient and user-friendly browsing experiences.
Source: Windows Report Is Chrome Copying Edge? ‘Omnibox Tools’ Bring Edge-Style Address Bar Shortcuts
