If you're a web developer looking at endless lines of codes practically most of your day, you'll need something to help make things even a tad easier.
Say, for instance, you come across a color on a website that would be perfect for your project. But you don't want to go through the hassle of adding another screenshot on your desktop and running it through a photo editor. Or you're debugging a piece of code and trying to spot that elusive typo.
All these tedious tasks can be so much easier with Chrome extensions. These tools can get the hex code with just a click or highlight any syntax errors on the page.
We know fully well that having the correct Chrome extensions in your browser can save you hours of work and streamline your workflow. So we've compiled a list of the top 19 extensions every web developer should have in their tech stack.
Understanding Chrome Extensions
As a web developer, you know how Chrome extensions work. But for posterity (and in case you stumbled upon this article looking for its meaning), let's gloss over it.
Chrome extensions are like your Swiss army knife — they are various tools sitting on the address bar of your Chrome browser. They serve multiple functionalities, from identifying website elements and screen recording to debugging and testing.
Installing them can enhance your productivity and simplify complex tasks. You only need to download them from the extension's website or the Chrome web store. "Add to Chrome," and you'll immediately find it on your browser.
You can use it in the background to enhance your overall browsing experience or click on the extension's icon to activate it whenever needed.
Best Chrome Extensions for Web Developers
BugHerd
BugHerd is a must-have bug-tracking tool that helps web developers find bugs and receive contextual feedback from clients. This tool eliminates the endless back-and-forth with the web development team as it sits on your website and allows you to log bugs instantly.
Feedback and comments are also pinned directly to the elements on the web page — exactly where they are — so there's less likelihood of miscommunication and misinterpretation.
BugHerd integrates seamlessly with other tech tools like Jira, Github, and WordPress, so you can streamline your workflow and simplify the project management of the website.
Many of BugHerd's users, especially web developers, rave about saving 3-4 hours of work every day because of its time-saving features.
BrowserStack
BrowserStack is used by many web developers and even quality assurance specialists for cross-browser testing. This tool ensures compatibility across different browsers, devices, and operating systems.
Resolving cross-browser issues becomes a breeze. You don't have to switch tabs; you can simultaneously test your website from different screens.
The best part for QA and UAT? It can automate the QA process and simulate device viewports, including multiple screen sizes and resolutions.
Fake Filler
Fake Filler is the ultimate time-saver for developers and testers as it helps them populate input fields on web pages with fake data — all in one click.
This tool works best when you're testing sign-up flows. You don't have to enter values or randomly press your keyboard each time manually. Fake Filler automatically fills the forms, making your test account look more authentic.
Loom
Loom (which was acquired by Atlassian) is a screen recording tool that lets you communicate with your team and collaborate on projects more efficiently. Its video sharing and webcam overlay features enable you to capture and share your screen with a teammate (or client) so you can explain bug issues and desired website changes more visually.
Loom is handy during internal QAs when describing bugs and walking through clients (often non-technical folks) on progress from the backend. This Chrome extension lets you share a link from your Loom account onto your everyday communication and project management tool like Slack and Asana.
LT Debug
LT Debug is a free Chrome extension that can streamline your debugging and testing process by replacing clunky debuggers and developer consoles.
It's also one of the top productivity tools for developers, as it can add, remove, and modify HTTP(s) header and block URL requests. It can also save any simulated configuration you like and return to it whenever you need to develop a website. You don't have to start from scratch for your next web project!
Web Developer Google Chrome Extension
This is an essential tool if you're a stickler for best practices in web design and development. The Web Developer extension helps you spot any design, coding, usability, or SEO violations on your web pages. This way, you can ensure compliance and avoid any coding and design issues in the future.
It's lightweight and easy to use. With just a few clicks, you can monitor key elements like page size, width, and dimensions. You can also dive deep into optimal usability across devices.
This extension is compatible with Windows, Linus, or macOS.
Window Resizer
Window Resizer is another tool that ensures your website and app works well across various screen sizes and resolutions.
Useful for testing responsive designs, web developers use the Window Resizer extension to — well — resize their browser windows and simulate different screen resolutions. It includes standard sizes for smartphones, tablets, and desktops. You can also add a custom size if your desired resolution isn't available.
And because this is a Chrome extension, you can easily export your settings and import them to another computer or device.
ColorZilla
ColorZilla is the perfect tool if you're looking for hex codes on a web page. It has the Eyedropper tool that gets you the color code you need by simply pointing and clicking on a specific portion of the screen.
If you want to dissect and understand the color composition of a webpage, you can use the color analyzer, which gives you insights into what makes the design stand out. The CSS gradient editor creates sleek gradients and converts images into CSS. And ColorZilla's palette development feature enables you to experiment and save your favorite color combinations.
Safe to say if you're looking for a Chrome extension on colors, this tool should be your go-to.
WhatFont
WhatFont is the Chrome extension to use for identifying fonts and typefaces. It's as simple as hovering over a word to determine the name, size, weight, and line height. It also lets you know whether Google Font API or Typekit serves the font.
Check My Links
Want to make sure you don't have any broken links on your website? Then use Check My Links. This extension checks your links — from broken links to redirects. It's an excellent tool for ensuring your website complies with technical SEO standards.
JavaScript Errors Notifier
With JavaScript Errors Notifier, spotting issues and errors becomes easier. Perfect for developers and testers, this Chrome extension finds JavaScript errors in apps before they reach clients.
You can customize notification levels to suit your preferences and copy error details easily. No more clicking and getting lost through lines of script. The notifier also includes domain-level filtering and options management for a better user experience.
Session Buddy
If you often lose all your open tabs when your browser crashes, Session Buddy is here to save the day. As a top-rated session manager, it lets you save collections of open tabs for later and recover them after a crash. It also has a handy search function to find what you need in all your tabs. You can say goodbye to tab chaos and hello to organized browsing!
Ghostery
As a web developer, speed is the name of the game. But what if your system can't keep up?
That's where Ghostery comes in. This powerful extension not only blocks website ads; it also eliminates trackers that slow down performance. It detects trackers, pixels, and other embedded snippets on a website.
Ghostery enables you to browse faster and keep your online privacy at the same time.
Wappalyzer
Discover the building blocks of any website with Wappalyzer. From content management systems to JavaScript libraries, this handy extension reveals the technical foundation of websites.
This is a handy tool for when clients approach you with samples or pegs of website designs and features — essentially, their wish list for how the site should look. But the brief pretty much ends there.
Wappalyzer shows the way to getting as close as possible to your client's dream website. It can tell you the programming languages, databases, web services, CMS or content management, analytics tools, plugins, widgets, etc.
Lorem Ipsum Generator
As the name suggests, Lorem Ipsum Generator produces placeholder texts for your web designs and prototypes. This nifty tool can save you a ton of time by adding default text in various lengths and formats, including paragraphs, headings, and lists. You can also customize the number of words or characters.
Clear Cache
Clear Cache can address any frustration you may have on slow browsers. You can remove old data and improve your overall browsing experience with just a click. It's that quick and you don't even have to navigate through your Chrome's settings.
The best thing about this tool is you can choose which elements you want to clear from the page — downloads, system clutter, form data, passwords, plugin data, and more.
JSON Viewer
Dealing with JSON data can be a pain at times. This open-source Chrome extension can easily format JSON data into a clear and organized display, so you won't have to stare at confusing and unreadable JSON text.
It includes features such as syntax highlights, option to sort by keys and show line numbers, color-coded formats, collapsible and expandable arrays and objects, and clickable links.
uBlock origin
uBlock origin makes it a lot easier to debug things when there are so many ad scripts. It's not your average ad blocker, it's a powerful content blocker with CPU and memory efficiency that gives you a faster, more enjoyable browsing experience. You can say goodbye to sluggish performance and stay on top of your web development game.
Allow CORS: Access-Control-Allow-Origin
This Chrome extension unlocks the power of cross-domain Ajax requests in your web applications. When you activate this extension, you effortlessly perform your requests as you break the barriers that generally block Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) in JavaScript APIs.
Heads up: When first installing this extension, it appears inactive with a gray C-letter icon. Activate it by opening the toolbar popup and clicking the toggle button on the left side. All systems go when the icon turns into an orange C letter.
Unlock a Higher Level of Efficiency and Productivity
With these Chrome extensions, web developers can be more efficient and get more done. From finding fonts to debugging applications quickly, building websites just got much easier.
Whether you're an experienced developer or just getting started, there's an extension for everyone.So go ahead and try some of these on the list.
Then watch yourself unlock a whole new level of efficiency and productivity in your web development and design workflow.
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