How can I get the current tab URL for chrome extension?

Question

I know there are many similar questions on SO, but I cannot seem to get it working.

I am trying to get the URL of the current tab from my Chrome extension. Hoewever, the alert(tab.url) returns "Undefined". I have added the "tabs" to my permissions in the manifest.json. Any ideas?

<html>
<head>
<script>

    chrome.tabs.getSelected(null, function(tab) {
        tab = tab.id;
        tabUrl = tab.url;

        alert(tab.url);
    });

</script>
</head>

This method is deprecated. [take a look!](http://stackoverflow.com/a/18437759/2396846) — Reyraa, Jul 27 '14 at 13:33
is there any way to avoid a query/poll, and instead listen for a click, to determine the active tab? — Alexander Mills, Jan 08 '18 at 06:43

score 162 · Answer 1 · edited Feb 23 '23 at 15:15

162

Just an FYI for people from Google:

The method OP uses is deprecated. To get the tab the user is viewing and only in the window they are viewing use this:

chrome.tabs.query({ active: true, currentWindow: true }, function (tabs) {
  // since only one tab should be active and in the current window at once
  // the return variable should only have one entry
  var activeTab = tabs[0];
  var activeTabId = activeTab.id; // or do whatever you need
});

edited Feb 23 '23 at 15:15

Federico Grandi

6,785
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answered Jul 24 '13 at 06:16

Jonathan Dumaine

5,575
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3

This should be chosen now as the old way will not work for multiple reasons. – NateDSaint Jan 21 '15 at 18:48

score 34 · Accepted Answer · answered May 26 '11 at 00:01

34

The problem is in this line:

tab = tab.id;

It should be something like:

var tabId = tab.id;

answered May 26 '11 at 00:01

serg

109,619
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You changed the variable tab by mistake... careful next time :) – fedmich Feb 17 '12 at 23:32
5

getSelected is deprecated. Please use tabs.query {active: true} [tabs#method-getSelected](https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/tabs#method-getSelected) – contributorpw Apr 21 '14 at 16:32
Hi i need **focused tab info**.. if I have more than 5 tab in browser, if click (focused ) tab 1 then "action trigger" or tab 2/3/4/5.. every time a tab focused then it should trigger.so what can i do? – Mani Kasi Aug 28 '16 at 13:46

score 15 · Answer 3 · edited Feb 23 '23 at 15:17

15

In manifest.json:

"permissions": [
    "tabs"
]

In JavaScript:

chrome.tabs.query({
    active: true,
    lastFocusedWindow: true
}, function(tabs) {
    // and use that tab to fill in out title and url
    var tab = tabs[0];
    console.log(tab.url);
    alert(tab.url);
});

edited Feb 23 '23 at 15:17

Federico Grandi

6,785
5
30
50

answered Jul 29 '17 at 06:44

Kartik Kkartik

159
1
2

score 9 · Answer 4 · edited Sep 12 '15 at 05:19

9

This is what worked for me:

chrome.tabs.query({
    active: true,
    lastFocusedWindow: true
}, function(tabs) {
    // and use that tab to fill in out title and url
    var tab = tabs[0];
    console.log(tab.url);
    alert(tab.url);
});

edited Sep 12 '15 at 05:19

Turnerj

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answered Sep 11 '15 at 18:35

jayant singh

929
12
17

Hi, I tried this, but didnt work. – Remo Bajwa Aug 11 '22 at 20:49

score 6 · Answer 5 · answered Feb 12 '18 at 20:41

6

With a little help of ES6, you can easily write nicer code :)

chrome.tabs.query({
  active: true,
  currentWindow: true
}, ([currentTab]) => {
  console.log(currentTab.id);
});

answered Feb 12 '18 at 20:41

rogyvoje

304
3
6

Alvaro Fierro · Answer 6 · 2022-09-24T04:08:03.770

4

The newest versions indicates it must be like this

async function getCurrentTab() {
  let queryOptions = { active: true, lastFocusedWindow: true };
  let [tab] = await chrome.tabs.query(queryOptions);
  return tab;
}

And you must add to your manifest.json this

"permissions: [
    "tabs"
]

edited Sep 24 '22 at 04:08

answered Sep 23 '22 at 19:38

Alvaro Fierro

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score 3 · Answer 7 · answered Mar 30 '22 at 13:39

3

Remember to add this to your manifest.json file

"permissions": [
    "tabs"
]

answered Mar 30 '22 at 13:39

Abbas Khan

31
1

score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Mar 22 '21 at 08:35

Just if someone using Web Extension Polyfill like me, for cross browser support.

// using async function
const [currentTab] = await browser.tabs.query({
  active: true,
  currentWindow: true,
});

console.log({ id: currentTab.id, url: currentTab.url });

score 0 · Answer 9 · answered Apr 08 '22 at 08:44

For me, I was missing the "tabs" permission as per Kartik Kkartin answer

Rest of the code in my background script

chrome?.tabs?.onUpdated?.addListener((tabId, changeInfo, tab) => {
  if (changeInfo.status == 'complete') {
    console.log('tabId', tabId, 'changeInfo', changeInfo, 'tab', tab)
  }
})

That will log the tab information, including the url in the tab.url when loading a tab

How can I get the current tab URL for chrome extension?

9 Answers9

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