Adding to the long list of speed browsing tools is a Chrome extension called Copy Link Address. This extension makes copying and pasting website addresses quicker than usual. Rather than highlighting a URL and invoking the Copy command either from a keyboard shortcut or the context menu, Copy Link Address allows you to simply hover over a link and press “Ctrl + C” / “Cmd + C” to copy the address. You can then paste the link to the desired location as normal. First, you’ll need to install the free extension from the Chrome Web Store. Once installed, the extension is automatically activated. You may now copy and paste any link by hovering the mouse pointer and holding down “Ctrl + C” (Windows) or “Cmd + C” (Mac). In the example below, I hovered the mouse pointer over the anchor text “What Is A Uniform Resource Locator,” then held down the hotkey “Ctrl + C”. Opening a new tab, I pressed “Ctrl + V” to paste the link as shown in the screenshot below: If you have a Mac, press “Cmd + v” again to paste the copied link address. The extension is mostly limited to this function, so it’s lightweight and will not slow down your browser in any way. You can paste a copied URL to any text box, text editor or notepad file. Once you’ve pasted the copied link, you cannot paste it to another location again. You would need to go back and copy from the source to be able to duplicate the process (unless you are using a clipboard manager). There is no indicator to show if the copying action was successful or not, and although this makes the extension less distracting, it also leaves a user wondering whether the key stroke worked or not unless he executes the Paste command. The extension might not let you copy all types of URLs, specifically those that link to files. To enable this feature, go to “Chrome Settings -> Extensions.” Under Copy Link Address, check the box beside “Allow access to file URLs.” Copy Link Address’s function is highly focused on a faster way to copy and paste URLs, so it’s not an all-around solution for other browsing needs. There is nothing else this extension does, and this is a good thing if you’re looking for a simple, uncomplicated solution. With this extension, you never have to access the context menu (right-click) again and should have the convenience of copying and pasting URLs all from keyboard shortcuts. Once you get the hang of it, you will see how a small thing like not clicking the right-click button makes such a big difference – in a good way. If you prefer using the keyboard, Copy Link Address is a small yet powerful extension that will make web browsing easier for you.
