Google Chrome: What Is View Page Source?

Dominic Anderson March 5, 2024

Listed within the Chrome and Chromium menus is a “View page source.” This allows developers and users to learn what happens under the hood when a page loads on the browser. It’s a window into the complexities of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript that make up the websites you browse daily.

Defining View Page Source in Chrome

The View page source option helps developers dissect and debug a webpage and gives enthusiasts a peek into the building blocks of websites.

Viewing source code lets you see every webpage ingredient (HTML), how it’s processed (CSS), and the coding interactions that bring it all together (JavaScript). This detailed view is invaluable for troubleshooting. Is there a layout issue? Inspecting the page source might reveal a missing tag. Is a button not responding? The JavaScript section might hold the answer.

You can’t change the code, test it, or preview any changes like you can when using the Inspect option (DevTools). However, it offers a quick look to identify anything you need, whether for educational, debugging, or research purposes.

How to Access a Webpage’s Source Code in Chrome

There are two methods to access the source code of a webpage in Chrome and Chromium browsers. Also, only one method works for right-click protected pages. Let’s get started.

Using the ‘View page source’ Menu Option

This option is the easiest way to review a webpage’s source code and works for any online page.

Open Google Chrome or Chromium browser like Edge or Brave.
Access the website or webpage you’re interested in.
Right-click an open area, select View page source, or press Ctrl + U (Windows) or Command + U (Mac).
The source code will then be displayed in a new tab, resembling a text editor layout.

Using the ‘view-source’ URL Option

Launch Google Chrome or a Chromium browser such as Edge or Brave.
Access the website or webpage you’re interested in.
In the address bar, type view-source:[webpage’s URL here], such as the following:
view-source:https://www.alphr.com.
The source code will then be displayed in a new tab, resembling a text editor layout.

See how to view HTML code in Chrome for a more detailed overview of accessing the feature on other devices.

Don’t Copy and Use Page Source Content Directly

Looking at a website’s source code is a simple way to gain insight into its structure and content. However, it does not provide more advanced information, such as debugging or performance analysis. Furthermore, dynamic content generated by JavaScript may not be visible in the source code.

It is important to remember that each website is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Additionally, you may come across poorly optimized websites that serve as examples of what not to do.

FAQs

Q: Is altering HTML, CSS, and Java code in the Inspect option safe?

A: You can do whatever you like in inspect mode within Chrome or a Chromium browser. It does not alter the website in any way. You are only making real-time edits for the preview of the page on the left.

Q: Isn’t the ‘View source code’ option a waste of time?

A: No, viewing source code allows developers to glance at the existing HTML, CSS, and Java instructions to find simple issues or lousy coding rather than dig around in a development tool. It is a quick-look option, just like a quick preview feature for PC files where it doesn’t open other programs. In addition, people can copy snippets of code and paste them into a website dev tool.