Can any browser switch to already open tab, if address you're opening is already open?

If "https://mail.google.com" is already open a tab, it it possible to have a browser switch to that tab if I try opening "https://mail.google.com" in a different tab?

What if I try opening the new address via cli (eg, google-chrome https://mail.google.com)? Can I get it to switch to already open tab?

Do any of the major browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Chromium, etc) have this feature?

Solution 1:

This is a feature of Firefox 4. If you start typing an already opened address, the drop-down menu will suggest switching to the already active tab pointing to that address.

There is an add-on for Firefox that will give you total keyboard control over the browser called "Pentadactyl" (here). While not required, you'll probably enjoy it more if you already know vi keybindings.

So in fact, there is a way to change tabs with a "terminal" (ok, not really a terminal). But Pentadactyl supports the following commands:

:tabnext
:tabprevious
:tablast

and several others.

Solution 2:

This can be done in Google Chrome by entering about:flags in the omnibox and scrolling to the very last item, "Focus existing tab on open". Click "Enable" and restart Chrome.

Note: this feature is not documented for a reason. On the about:flags page it states:

"These experimental features may change, break, or disappear at any time. We make absolutely no guarantees about what may happen if you turn one of these experiments on, and your browser may even spontaneously combust."

In other words, you modify these settings at your own risk.