Guy’s Guides – The Basics of Google Chrome

Using tabs in Google Chrome

Tabs are a useful tool in Google Chrome, as they allow us to keep more than one website available and open at the same time.  Sometimes, when you click on a link, a new tab will open automatically so it is important to understand how they work and know where to find them. 

Here, I have 2 tabs open and they are highlighted in red above.  A tab will always have a name, like Web of the Week Community, and a small icon.  If you wish to view another website whilst keeping the other 2 open, you can open another tab by clicking on the + button on the right of the red box above.  To close a tab you no longer need, just click on the x on the right of each tab.  Finally, in order to move from one tab to another, just click on the one that you would like to see. 

Finding a new website using the URL bar

To find a website, you can use the URL bar as highlighted in red below. 

If you know the website that you would like to visit, you may be able to type in the exact website address, that looks something like www.weboftheweek.com.  However, frequently we don’t actually know the address.  No need to worry though, just type in what you’re looking for, as this bar also works just like a search bar.  I can type in whatever I’m looking for, whether it be a question, the name of a company, someone’s name or whatever I’m looking for.  Then just hit the Enter key on your keyboard, and your search results will appear.  Final fact, the Chrome URL bar is intelligent and remembers what you have already searched for, or proposes suggestions based on what is popular on the internet.  So when you start typing what you’re looking for, look at what Google is suggesting too!

Using the navigation buttons Back and Forward

On a particular tab, you can visit different pages of a single website or maybe even go onto another website.  However, you may want to come back to the previous page.  This could be because the link that you clicked on didn’t interest you in the end.  You can use the Back button to come back to the previous page you visited.  And of course, if you click on back, then it means that you can also go forward!

Solving issues with the Refresh button