I know Ctrl+L moves focus to the browser address bar, and I use it all the time across browsers. What would be useful though, on sites such as this one, Amazon, or even Google, is a shortcut which moves directly to the "main" search bar at the top of the page. Is there such a thing?

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8 Answers

Not in every situation but / (slash) works on a lot of websites like Google pages (Youtube, Gmail, Drive, Photos...), Facebook, Twitter... and brings you to that page's search box

/ - Search

How can I navigate Facebook with keyboard shortcuts?

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In Github you can even see the / shortcut on the search box

s or /: Focus the search bar. For more information, see "About searching on GitHub."

Keyboard shortcuts

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Same to JIRA:

See Jira - Using Keyboard Shortcuts

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It also works in Google after searching: Shortcut for Google search box

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/ is also the shortcut for "quick find" in Firefox

This key probably comes from several Unix command line tools (lile less or vi) where / is the search feature

Since you are using chrome, the closest thing I can think of is using an extension called vimium.

1. You press "f," it shows a letter (or two) in front of every field on the page.
2. You press that letter, and it simulates a click.

This way can achieve the desired outcome of using a shortcut to jump to the search bar, but this shortcut changes from page to page.

example : in this case you press: f followed by d

2

If you're using Firefox, you could go to about:config and configure accessibility:tabfocus to 1. See here for more details:

This will force the Tab key to give focus to text fields only so most of the time, just once or few presses of the Tab key directs it to the search bar and other text fields.

Firefox

1. Jump to address bar: Ctrl+L
2. Input search engine keyword: @<search-engine><Enter>
3. Input search query

Tip: Firefox has auto-completion after inputting @ symbol. A relative drop-down menu appears below the address bar that shows your choices.

Search Settings

Add, change, or remove search engines and keywords: about:preferences#search

Examples

Default Search Engine: Ctrl+L@TAB the BeatlesEnter

Amazon: Ctrl+L@AmazonSpace Beatles submarineEnter

DuckDuckGo: Ctrl+L@dTab Beatles memorabiliaEnter

Pros & Cons

Pros

- This will work for any search engine that can be added into Firefox in preferences.
- Defaults come with Firefox: Amazon, Google, Bing, eBay, DuckDuckGo, Wikipedia

Cons

- This doesn't work with websites outside of what you can add-on in Firefox's preferences.

You can workaround this con through:

1. / or Ctrl+F search features by searching for a keyword on the webpage that sits adjacent to the search bar then Tabbing over. Use ShiftTab to tab backwards.

2. Use Google's site operator in search bar to search a given domain. site:github.com avr assembly

Use an Extension

If using Chrome, simply install Search Box Focus. It allows you to set your own custom shortcut and works basically everywhere. On any website that has a search bar.

This userscript adds a slash keypress event listener for google search pages.

You can use it with Tampermonkey in most modern browsers.

depending on how you use your browser.

i. e. Google Chrome accepts it by using F6 as any default browser for the Adress Bar, any text for them will redirected to the default search engine

you can use "Tab". After you type the website on address bar. for example: then press TAB

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