Member Avatar for MDGM

Is there a way to, when the url changes, intercept it and take the user to a different page?

For example, if the user types in "facebook:" and then some other random words, like "facebook: eating my dinner" it takes the user to the facebook share page instead of just googling those words?

Seems unlikely for security reasons etc but im curious......

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Dani AI

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Short answer: a normal webpage cannot watch or hijack arbitrary typing in the browser address bar (the omnibox). That behavior is prevented by browsers for security and privacy. As hinted, the solution usually lives outside in browser/OS features rather than plain client-side JavaScript.

Practical alternatives:

  • Use navigator.registerProtocolHandler to offer a handler for a custom scheme (commonly web+...). Browsers prompt the user to accept the handler; support and allowed scheme names vary. See MDN for details and compatibility: Navigator.registerProtocolHandler.
  • Provide a browser extension. Chrome/Edge extensions can add an omnibox keyword or handle requests via extension APIs (the omnibox API lets users type a keyword then press Tab, and the extension receives the query). See Chrome extension docs: Omnibox API.
  • Add a bookmarklet or a custom search engine/keyword in the browser. A short keyword (for example, fb) that maps to a URL your site controls is the simplest way for quick, user-triggered sharing without installing software.
  • Native app / OS-level protocol. An installed app can register facebook:-style URI handlers in the OS, but this requires an installer and cannot be done from a webpage.

Example: registering a web+ scheme (browser will prompt the user)

navigator.registerProtocolHandler(
  "web+facebook",
  "https://example.com/handle?uri=%s",
  "My Facebook-style handler"
);

If the goal is just convenience for sharing text (not intercepting omnibox input globally), the least friction options are a bookmarklet or a custom search engine keyword. Protocol handlers and extensions work too but require user consent or installation and have browser-specific restrictions.

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Member Avatar for Taywin

Yes, but it is url rewriting on your server side, not on JavaScript.

Member Avatar for MDGM

ahh okay, not what i would need. thanks anyway :)

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