Top 10 Useful Bookmarklets

Having a good set of bookmarklets on your browser’s toolbar is like having a web-savvy Leatherman handy—you can take them anywhere, use them in many situations, and they just simply work. A bookmarklet is a little different than a plain old bookmark—it’s a snippet of JavaScript that can perform all sorts of magic on the web page you’re currently viewing. You add bookmarklets to your bookmarks collection to get all sorts of things done as you surf the web. Let’s take a look at some of the best bookmarklets available, which can help you search and email, download videos, and work out some of the web’s kinks.

To start using a bookmarklet, make sure your browser’s bookmarks toolbar is visible. Then, drag and drop the bookmarklet link (enclosed in square brackets below each item on this post) to your bookmarks toolbar. When you’re on a page where you want to use the bookmarklet? Just click its name on your toolbar.

10. YubNub Web Search

If you’re the type who gives their upper-right search box a serious workout, the “web command line” YubNub could be right up your alley, and its bookmarklet makes it lightning-quick. Using the text box that pops up, type in gmaps Starbucks for a Google Maps look at local chain coffee joints, wp Hawaii for the Wikipedia entry on the 50th state, or whatever shortcuts suit your fancy. For even better browser integration, you can install YubNub in your Firefox address bar.

9. Supercharged GmailThis

Our own JavaScript tweaker Adam took a liking to the original GmailThis bookmarklet, which pops up a Gmail compose window with a link to the page you’re browsing already inserted. The Supercharged edition is a custom fit for anyone who does their bookmarking with Gmail, but can also be used to set up multiple pre-addressed, pre-formatted messages: “Thought you’d like to check this out, Boss,” “This week’s discussion topic,” etc. Set it up to your specifications, and it might be faster than your desktop email client.