Hello everyone, welcome once again to this educational guide on how to use Chrome Developer Tools!

In this article, we will take a quick look at some of the best Chrome Developer Tools and how they can make your day-to-day tasks easier and more fun.

By the time you are done reading this guide, you will not just know the various Chrome Developer Tools there are but you will also understand why you should use them.

Here are some points that we will discuss in this guide:

  • What are Chrome Developer Tools?
  • What are the best paid and free Chrome Developer Tools available?
  • The pros and cons of using Chrome Developer Tools
  • How to solve common troubleshooting errors

Without wasting any more time, let’s start right away!

What are Chrome Developer Tools?

What are Chrome Developer Tools

Developers are busy people but they sometimes use tools that make their job easier.

One such indispensable tool is Chrome Developer Tools.

With it, they provide top-notch and quality services.

How to Use Chrome Developer Tools The Lighthouse feature can be used to improve SEO

Chrome Developer Tools have several useful features and troubleshooting extensions whose interfaces are multifunctional.

Before any Chrome Developer Tool is approved and accepted for use, it must be sanctioned by reputable Developers worldwide.

One of the features that makes DevTools appealing to Developers worldwide is its amazing debugging extension for all browsers.

The Chrome DevTools are easy to use although you need to become familiar with its functionality to maximize its usage.

You can easily solve any problem you encounter while surfing through a website.

How is that made possible?

All you need to do is use the error console from the website as well as the monitoring features to activate the corresponding extension. 

Chrome DevTools also displays a front-end loophole that allows you to keep track of how the website looks on various platforms like mobile devices or computer monitors.

With Chrome DevTools, you can do website real-time editing on:

  • HTML
  • JavaScript
  • CSS

Once you edit a website, you can view the changes almost immediately though the changes may not change the website permanently. 

Because each correction is made on the source code, the results are temporarily displayed, and thus you may not be able to see the adjustments for some time.

This allows you, the user, to come up with how to improve the speed at which your website loads and it also fixes bugs easily.

Developers use Chrome Developers Tools to mainly customize applications that use the browsers to:

  • Solve any problems with the user interface 
  • Solve any bug issues with Javascript Code
  • Improve your codingOptimize 

To access Chrome DevTools, right-click any part of the page and select inspect elements from the menu options.

Next, select tools, then on the top-right menu options, choose developer tools.

Almost every internet user has Google Chrome, and the same is true for Developers too.

These Chrome Developer Extensions can significantly improve your work through effective testing, development, and debugging of any site through your Chrome browser. 

Even if you are familiar with Chrome already, you need to research these additional tips and tricks to boost your productivity.

Chrome has an experimental version called Chrome Canary.

This experimental version is a viable alternative for Developers who wish to use the limited version of DevTool.

The Chrome Canary is regularly updated to include recently added features.

The Best Free Chrome Developer Tools

The Best Free Chrome Developer Tools

Browser Stack 

Browserstack tool is used by Developers to test the responsiveness of any project they are working on. 

It performs roles that are similar to the Windows Resizer.

The tool is readily available on any Chrome browser.

This extension allows you to test any current project with different browsers rather than testing with different screen sizes.

To use the extension, install the extension, open your page in Chrome, select BrowserStack and select a device option from the tab. 

It will show the page using an emulation of a browser on that device.

It is very easy to use yet the extension is very effective.

 Keep in mind that you need a BrowserStack account for this Developer Tool to work optimally.

WhatFont 

WhatFont is a common Chrome Developer Tool that identifies the fonts on any webpage.

It is a shortcut that saves you the stress of inspecting each element of the website.

You have to install the WhatFont extension before you can use the tool, then, you will click on Whatfont icon, and choose any font you so desire to use.

The tool will tell you the font name immediately. 

You will also notice a small tab that contains the font size, the color, the weight, and the line-height immediately after you click the font.

You can also get samples from the DevTool as well as answers to any questions you might have while using the extension.

Chengyin Liu, a Software Developer working with Airbnb is the creator of WhatFont.

Eye Dropper

This is similar to website fonts, but in addition, it enables you to know the color codes displayed on a website page. 

You can use this handy Chrome extension rather than fiddling around with inspecting or diving into brand guidelines (if they exist).

You can quickly play around a webpage and get any specific colors with Eye Dropper.

All you have to do is click the color on the webpage and it will automatically be copied to your clipboard for easy access. 

You can access your history for web pages you can’t remember, and view their RGB values and hex values with this tool.

Eye Dropper for Chromium is also available, and it has other features you can use to dive into the CSS of the website.

CSS Viewer

CSS Viewer is a simple and handy CSS property viewer you can use to speedily identify the major CSS properties on a webpage. 

A popup window on your computer displays the data at any point your mouse is on the web page once you select the tool.

It is an open-source tool that enables you to find the source code on GitHub for free.

It also secures your privacy as it does not collect or transmit your private data despite requiring access to your history and web data.

So your data is safe, lucky you!

Clear Cache

Clear Cache is the easiest way to clear your cache by just a single click on your keyboard or just a button.

Benjamin Bojko created this means of clearing all your browsing data at a glance.

There are no confirmation dialogs, pop-ups, or anything else that can slow down your clearing process. 

You can also customize the amount of data that gets cleared from the following locations: App Cache, Cache, Cookies, Local Storage, File Systems, Form Data, History, Indexed DB, Plugin Data, Downloads, Passwords, and WebSQL. 

Although cookies are beneficial to some frequented domains even if you hate cookies, you can also customize the domain cookies that will be deleted and left uneaten.

The Best Paid Chrome Developer Tools

The Best Paid Chrome Developer Tools

Marker.io

Marker.io is a user-friendly Web Developer extension that is designed to ease browser bug reporting and make them more visual. 

It helps you capture screenshots and use editing features to vividly outline where and what the bug is.

This extension is also great as it can easily integrate with the majority of project management tools you use at work such as Trello, Asana, Jira, GitHub. 

You can create a ticket straight from Marker.ion without exiting the site once you’ve highlighted the issue.

You can also switch between Apps. 

However, this is a paid extension with plans starting at $49 a month.

Most users nudge their employers to help cover any subscription cost accrued.

Octotree – GitHub code tree 

Octotree is an extension designed to improve your GitHub use especially if you’re already using GitHub.

It has both free and pro versions. 

You can further explore code review and play around the DevTool with the free version.

How to Use Chrome Developer Tools The Octotree tool can be used to improve your Github

Some features include the lightning-fast file search, GitHub themes, Privatized repositories, quick IDE-like code tree, Omni bookmarking, light-level performance, and working with repositories of any size are all features of this extension.

We won’t discuss the pro version here, but you can check the website if you are interested in knowing more about the advantages of Octotree. 

This website will not share your data, your privacy is secured. 

React Devealoper Tool

React Developer Tool is a popular Chrome developer extension designed to debug applications using the React framework. 

You’ll be able to inspect the React component hierarchies in the Chrome Developer Tools after installing this tool.

You have a range of browsers to choose from such as Chrome, and Firefox. 

It’s super handy and the tutorials will get you up to speed rapidly once you familiarize yourself with all the features. 

Daily Dev 

Although a little bit different from typical dev tools, DailyDev gathers articles, guides, and news topics from hundreds of sources on the web all in one place by connecting with your Google account.

It can become your Chrome homepage with just a click on the button.

You get to control your data and you’ll see what’s trending in the news and things other Developers are reading each time you open a new tab. 

You can also add your most visited sites to have a homepage you’re very much familiar with.

It links up with your Google account and with a click of a button, it becomes your customized Chrome homepage.

It means that whenever you open a new tab you’ll see what’s trending in the news and what other Developers are looking for and what they are reading.

One interesting feature is that you are free to add your most visited web pages to your homepage so that you can easily access your favori.

DailyDev also allows you to search and monitor topics that are of interest to you, lets you access any recent content related to it, allows you to add comments, like and share your favorite articles, and bookmark pages that you can read later.

Wappalyzer

You can discover all the technologies a website is using within seconds of looking at the site through this amazing Developer tool. 

You also get to understand what a competitor is searching for or reading by applying Wappalyzer.

We’re personally inquisitive about the technology our favorite websites use, thus we frequently check Wappalyzer while surfing the internet.

You can detect the JavaScript libraries a site uses, the e-commerce platform they subscribe to, their CMS, Analytics, frameworks, PaaS, and other browser-related details through this Chrome Developer Tool.

You don’t have to sign up or input your details to use the free version.

All you need to do is to install and check out the websites you’re inquisitive about. 

Wappalyzer also has a pro version that provides the contact information of any company you wish to search for.  

Comparison of free and paid Chrome Developer Tools

Comparison of free and paid Chrome Developer Tools

While there is nothing wrong with using the free Chrome Developer Tools, it is a personal decision each one must make based on what task they need to execute.

However, let’s compare both and see which one will be most beneficial in the long run:

Cost

One reason why most people choose free Chrome Developer Tools over the paid versions is that they cost virtually nothing to use them. 

Unlike the paid versions where you have to get our credit card details ready before you can use them, all you have to do with the free version is get a credible link and just start using them.

So in terms of cost, it is profitable to use the free version.

Features

As expected, free versions will have fewer features as compared to using paid versions of Chrome Developer Tools.

In most cases, they don’t just have more features, these features are also user-friendly.

Some Chrome Developer Tools offer tutorial videos where new users can get visual help on how to navigate through its amazing features.

So, in terms of features, it pays to use paid Chrome Developer Tools.

Platforms

Most paid DevTools are versions that are compatible with various electronic and mobile devices.

We shouldn’t expect anything below that for the money we paid.

This is unlike free versions that may have just one version.

So in terms of availability on several versions, it is better to use pad Chrome Developer Tools.  

Pros and Cons of Using Free or Paid Chrome Developer Tools

Pros and Cons of Using Free or Paid Chrome Developer Tools

Pros

  • Acts as an emulator for different screens such as mobile and iPad
  • Supplies tools that can be used to observe network and application performance, and a way of simulating varying network speeds
  • The performance analysis tool easily spots bottlenecks
  • The console is very handy for running ad-hoc JavaScript
  • It gives you a console for writing javascript code such that you can interact with and change the behavior of the page you are working on, specifically when debating code
  • Inspect tools to view the DOM structure of a webpage and it is easy to use
  • CSS edits that enable you to change the style of dom elements and view the changes in no time without switching to your editor, making changes, and reloading the browser window to save time
  • Provides means of setting javascript break points enabling you to view the runtime values of a variable
  • Display CSS properties accurately
  • The network tab inspects the assets loaded on the page, the order in which they load, and how long they take to load
  • Emulate mobile devices
  • Show running HTML DOM objects

Cons

  • It often uses lots of CPU space and RAM
  • In most cases, the extension elements cannot be directly clicked on to scroll the screen either up or down for ease of access. 
  • The command code community is too large, hence it is not easy to avoid getting stuck on large browser pages Focusing on the screen during these moments is not easy
  • Some of the Chrome Developer Tools have a rather steep or abrupt learning procedure
  • A lack of an element that lets all users edit their jobs directly from the console – Some are trying in this aspect but could be better

This function would have been great for creating multi-functional programs.

Prospects of Chrome Developer Tools

Prospects of Chrome Developer Tools

Some new features have been added to Chrome Developer Tools that the majority of Developers are not aware of. 

How to Use Chrome Developer Tools The Lighthouse feature can be used to improve SEO

These include:

  • Lighthouse: Handles anything that has to do with SEO, any suggestions for improvement, tips for effectiveness, accessibility, and how-tos
  • Inspect Element: The Inspect element tab features an upgrade to the Inspect element tool suggestion tab – It supplies information about the most recent update to the extension
  • Emulate vision deficiencies: This feature allows you to access and view a web page through a low vision lens – This view allows makes simple errors better
  • Performance Panel Timings: This extension tool displays stats that are useful to any user – One such stat is the Larget Contentful Paint
  • Performance Monitor: This tab readily displays real-time metrics on your usage – For example, it displays the URL of the web page you are currently working on size

One thing you should keep in mind is that newer features will always be added at regular intervals. 

For this fact, you should consider using Chrome Developer Tools for your regular work because it is interesting and it also makes for an easier working experience.

Challenges Faced by Users and Troubleshooting Tricks

Challenges Faced by Users and Troubleshooting Tricks

Problem 1: The “Issues” tab 

Solution:

  1. Open the page that needs to be fixed – An example is samesite-sandbox.glitch.me
  2. Click the DevTools
  3. Next, locate the “Go to Issues” tab on the page then click on the “Issues”  tab from the “More tools ” menu
  4. Next, locate the “Reload page” button and click on it – This button can be found on the “Issues” tab.

You may observe some difficulties as you try to understand the issue that was reported in the console (like the common cookies warning). 

These are the steps you must take to fix this issue.

Problem 2: Problem with viewing items on the “Issues ” tab

Solution: The “Issues” tab is always structured in a unique way on any browser.

The warning must be taken very seriously.

  1. To fix this problem, click on the “Issues” tab to discover what the problem is.
  2. Next, click the affected tab in the Issues plane.

Each item in this tab has four components each, they are:

  • The headline: This is the main mention of the problem
  • The description: This describes the problem and possible solutions
  • The Affected resources: Describes the Dev Tools that can solve the problem
  • The links: Any further action needed

Problem 3: Problem with viewing issues in the context 

Solution:

  • To view any item in the corresponding context in a DevTool, all you need to do is click on the resource link – For example, you can click on samesite-sandbox.glitch.me to display any cookies attached to a request
  • Scroll down to view the item in the context, and hover over the information menu on the right-hand side of your screen to view any particular issue and how to correct them

Common Website Error Messages and their Meaning

Common Website Error Messages and their Meaning

“Switch the Orientation of Chrome Developer Tools”

When you access Chrome Developer Tools, find the three menu dots on the right-hand side of the page.

This is different from the three menu dots on the main browser page.

Clicking on the menu dots within the DevTool will change the current positions of the DevTools.

Search for the dockside tab from the plane and select it.

“Install Chrome DevTools Extensions”

To quickly correct this or debug your browser page, install any language extension.

Any other framework DevToo can function this way.

If you are confused as to which DevTool will give you the required result, feel free to search several Chrome DevTool extensions on the gallery.

“Check for Security Issues on a Website”

The security of your website or privacy matters a lot.

So to evaluate this issue and fix it.

Click Security in the DevTools menu.

You can find it at the top of the DevTool page. 

This evaluation is based on certain website metrics like connection security, security certificates, and website privacy.

Switching on the Security extension helps you identify any potential threats well in advance and thus you can take appropriate measures to minimize them.

“Audit Your Website”

Chrome DevTools allows you to gauge the performance (overall) of your website using the Audit my website feature.

This assessment is based on some performance metrics on your browser.

To do this, choose the Lighthouse tab on the Chrome DevTool page and select it to run.

Next, choose the parameters that you want to evaluate then select the corresponding checkbox for either Mobile or Desktop.

You will now easily know the overall performance of your webpage in various formats.

Why You should learn how to use Chrome Developer Tools

Chrome Tools Developers know that time is of importance.

So the tools are designed to save you lots of time by saves you time by allowing you to edit your site straight from the browser.

Additionally, you can also improve your browser DevTools through the following features:

Panels: This tab allows you to test the elements on your webpage, allows you to make changes and save the changes, and finally lets you retrieve any useful information that you may have lost.

Efficiency: With this feature, you don’t need to keep switching tabs before editing any web page.

learning how to use Chrome Developer Tools saves you a lot of time

Each Chrome Developer Tool has been synced into your Chrome browser.

Debug JavaScript: This feature allows you to duplicate bugs, restrict and control a running code, monitor script failings or evaluate their execution.

Optimization: The Optimization feature does website audits and prepares a report of each completed audit.

It also gives tips and suggestions on ways to improve the speed of your website.

Conclusion

Conclusion on how to become a Web Developer

Chrome DevTools let you do whatever you need to as a Developer from website debugging to editing and so on. 

These tools are also luckily easy to use regardless of your level as a Developer

You can even learn some basics of website front-end development by searching the source code of websites you visit.

Furthermore, what we have discussed here isn’t exhaustive.

Thus, feel free to experiment with the available features.

This won’t tamper with your website at all.

FAQs 

FAQs

What are some great Chrome Developer Tools?

Here are some great Chrome extensions that are certified by expert Developers:

– WhatFont 

– Githunt

– Eyedropper

– ColorPick

– Checkbot

– Fonts Ninja

– Window Resizer

– CSS viewer

– BrowserStack

– Lorem Ipsum Generator

Others include HTML validator, EditThisCookie, Wappalyzer, LightShot, Ghostery, Clear Cach, ColorZilla, Page Ruler, Daily.dev, and Session Buddy.

 How do I open the Developer Tools in Chrome?

On the Developer console in the Chrome browser, open the Tools tab.
 
Click More Tools, then Developer Tools. 

Alternatively, you may use the Option+ Control Button to access it on Windows or Linus operating systems.

On Mac OS, press Option + ⌘ + J to access the Chrome Developer Tools.

 If I use Mac OS or IOS, can I still use Chrome Developer Tools?

Yes, you can. 

Tap the three menu dots in the top right corner of your browser page.

This only displays when you are using the Chrome browser. 

Then select “More Tools” followed by “Extensions.”

Tap the “+” button and select “Add from Chrome Web Store.”

How can I add app extensions on the Chrome Developer Tools page?

Click Apps or Extensions located on the left side of your Chrome browser page. 

Use the search box to find the app extension you are looking for.

Make sure to review the extension’s data and feedback to ascertain if it is right for you.

Can I use the Chrome Developer Tool on Firefox?

Open Firefox, then locate the Tools tab from the browser menu.

Next, click on Web Developer Tools.

Alternatively, you can use the following shortcut:

Ctrl + Shift + I or press the F12  button.

This shortcut will work on Windows and Linux operating system.

On MacOS, use Cmd + Opt + I.

References

Chrome Developers

Ket Cdn

Jotform Stories

BitDegree learn

Geo Marvel


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