Firefox may soon display the search term instead of the Search Engine's address

[silversurfer]

Firefox Nightly users may have noticed a change regarding searches made in the development browser. When users type search terms in Firefox's address bar, Firefox displays the typed in search term instead of the web address of the search engine.

The change applies to the default search engine of the browser only and only if searches are started from the browser's address bar. The visit of a search engine and the entering of search terms on the search engine's page shows the correct address in the address bar of the browser.

Mozilla has been working on persistent search terms in the Firefox address bar for a while. The change of the default behavior in Firefox Nightly was made to get "early feedback" on the implementation. The feature is turned on by default in Firefox Nightly, but there is a new Search related setting to restore the classic behavior.

It is unclear if the change will be implemented in Firefox Stable, considering that Mozilla is trying to get feedback with the enabling in Firefox Nightly.

Firefox may soon display the search term instead of the Search Engine's address - gHacks Tech News

Mozilla is testing a change in Firefox Nightly currently that replaces the default search engine's address with the user's search term.

www.ghacks.net

 

[brambedkar59]

But why

 

[silversurfer]

But why

No final decision by Mozilla, the article mentioned that as fact. Furthermore the downside what users don't like:

Closing Words

Why is Mozilla considering the change? The meta bug does not tell and the linked Mozilla Hub page is not accessible publicly. I do not see any gain in the change, especially since the search term is displayed on the search engine's website prominently. The display of the search term instead of the address of the search engine has at least two negative aspects: users can't verify the address anymore using the address bar, as it is no longer displayed. Additionally, it is no longer possible to copy the address or edit it.

Firefox may soon display the search term instead of the Search Engine's address - gHacks Tech News

Mozilla is testing a change in Firefox Nightly currently that replaces the default search engine's address with the user's search term.

www.ghacks.net

 

[silversurfer]

Disabling the search term in the URL in Firefox​

Firefox users may disable the new functionality, so that the address of the search engine is displayed again in the browser's address bar.

Here is how that is done:

1. Load about: preferences#search in the browser's address bar.
2. Under Search Bar, uncheck the "Show search terms instead of URL on default search engine results pages" to return to the status quo.

The change happens immediately, a restart of the Firefox web browser is not required. To undo the change, check the box again the Firefox preferences.

How to disable Firefox's Search Terms in the address bar feature - gHacks Tech News

Find out how to disable the displaying of search terms in Firefox's address bar and the restoring of the URL there instead.

www.ghacks.net