The address bar and search box at the top of the Google Chrome interface is officially known as the omnibox, a name that reflects its multifunctional capabilities. While primarily used by developers, the omnibox does more than simply look up web addresses and conduct Google searches.
Understanding the extensive functionalities of the omnibox can streamline various tasks, allowing users to save time when switching between apps and websites. Google continually enhances the omnibox with new features, including a recent integration with Gemini AI.
To chat with Gemini, users can type “@gemini” in the address bar, followed by a space and their prompt for the chatbot. Pressing Enter will send the query to Google Gemini, employing the version that’s available to the user, such as Gemini Advanced for paying subscribers.
The omnibox can also perform various conversions. Users can convert measurements, currencies, or time periods by typing the desired conversion. For instance, typing “£34 in US dollars” will immediately display the conversion result beneath the omnibox without the need to press Enter.
Basic mathematical calculations can be executed directly from the omnibox. Typing equations such as “24*8” or “352+91” provides instant results below the box, and pressing Enter will activate the full Chrome calculator.
Checking the weather from the omnibox is simple; users can type “weather” to see a brief overview of current conditions in their location. For the most precise results, Chrome needs access to the user’s location. To view the weather in a specific area, users can append a town, city, or postal code to their query and press Enter for a detailed forecast.
Searching bookmarks is also possible through the omnibox without accessing the Chrome Bookmark Manager. Users must first input the name of a bookmark folder and then any relevant word or phrase to see instant results for saved pages within that folder.
For taking quick notes, users can enter “data:text/html, ” followed by Enter to open a blank tab for typing. This basic text editor does not support formatting or auto-saving but is suitable for jotting down thoughts quickly.
To find word definitions, users can type “define”, followed by a space and the word they want to know more about. A basic definition will appear beneath the omnibox. To return to the previous URL, pressing Esc will remove the definition display.
New documents, spreadsheets, or presentations can be created in Google’s online office suite by entering “docs.new”, “sheets.new”, or “slides.new” in the omnibox. Pressing Enter will create the document in the Google Drive linked to the current account. Shift+Enter creates the document in a new window, leaving the current one open.
Creating new emails is straightforward by typing “mailto:” and pressing Enter, which opens a blank email in the default email client. Users can pre-fill the recipient’s address by typing it after the colon. To set the default email client, users on Windows should go to Apps > Default Apps, and on macOS, navigate to Mail > Settings > General.
For quick Google searches, the omnibox can provide instant answers similar to those at the top of search result pages. Users can inquire about various facts, such as the height of landmarks, the mass of planets, celebrity ages, upcoming dates, current stock prices, country sizes, book authors, and more.
