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Privacy. I don't think revenue is a factor, since it's probably hooked up to the address bar search too.
by sid0 15y ago
Privacy. I don't think revenue is a factor, since it's probably hooked up to the address bar search too.
- MatthewPhillips 15y agoHow does the existence of a search box affect privacy?
- mbrubeck 15y agoThe search box provides suggestions, but it does this by sending everything you type to your search provider. The address box doesn't, because we feel it's bad for privacy to send every web address you type to a third party.
- MatthewPhillips 15y agoCan't you use regexp to differentiate urls from search terms and only send search terms?
- m_myers 15y agoHow? Do you start all your URLs with "www"? I know I don't, so a regex couldn't possibly know until I typed either a space or a dot. On the other hand, if you could make this work, I'd love to see it.
- ninwa 15y agoPerhaps we could do the reverse? Provide search suggestions if the user explicitly tells us to by beginning their input with a special character. '?' perhaps. Alternatively, although not intuitive, if the user enters focus with the search bar through a specific key-stroke: CTRL + L for a regular URL entry, and re-route CTRL + K to our web-bar, but with suggestions.
- 9999 15y agoThank you for respecting your user's privacy. This is one of the many reasons I use Firefox over Chrome.
- jonknee 15y agoFWIW, it's an option in Chrome. Simply uncheck "Use a prediction service to help complete searches and URLs typed in the address bar" in the preferences.
- georgefox 15y agoBut with Firefox, your search box can still make suggestions while not sending web addresses to a third-party, thereby allowing you to have your cake and eat it too.