chrome.tabs

Description

Use the chrome.tabs API to interact with the browser's tab system. You can use this API to create, modify, and rearrange tabs in the browser.

The Tabs API not only offers features for manipulating and managing tabs, but can also detect the language of the tab, take a screenshot, and communicate with a tab's content scripts.

Permissions

Most features don't require any permissions to use. For example: creating a new tab, reloading a tab, navigating to another URL, etc.

There are three permissions developers should be aware of when working with the Tabs API.

The "tabs" permission

This permission does not give access to the chrome.tabs namespace. Instead, it grants an extension the ability to call tabs.query() against four sensitive properties on tabs.Tab instances: url, pendingUrl, title, and favIconUrl.

{
  "name": "My extension",
  ...
  "permissions": [
    "tabs"
  ],
  ...
}
Host permissions

Host permissions allow an extension to read and query a matching tab's four sensitive tabs.Tab properties. They can also interact directly with the matching tabs using methods such as tabs.captureVisibleTab(), tabs.executeScript(), tabs.insertCSS(), and tabs.removeCSS().

{
  "name": "My extension",
  ...
  "host_permissions": [
    "http://*/*",
    "https://*/*"
  ],
  ...
}
The "activeTab" permission

activeTab grants an extension temporary host permission for the current tab in response to a user invocation. Unlike host permissions, activeTab does not trigger any warnings.

{
  "name": "My extension",
  ...
  "permissions": [
    "activeTab"
  ],
  ...
}

Use cases

The following sections demonstrate some common use cases.

Open an extension page in a new tab

A common pattern for extensions is to open an onboarding page in a new tab when the extension is installed. The following example shows how to do this.

background.js:

chrome.runtime.onInstalled.addListener(({reason}) => {
  if (reason === 'install') {
    chrome.tabs.create({
      url: "onboarding.html"
    });
  }
});

Get the current tab

This example demonstrates how an extension's service worker can retrieve the active tab from the currently-focused window (or most recently-focused window, if no Chrome windows are focused). This can usually be thought of as the user's current tab.

  async function getCurrentTab() {
    let queryOptions = { active: true, lastFocusedWindow: true };
    // `tab` will either be a `tabs.Tab` instance or `undefined`.
    let [tab] = await chrome.tabs.query(queryOptions);
    return tab;
  }


  function getCurrentTab(callback) {
    let queryOptions = { active: true, lastFocusedWindow: true };
    chrome.tabs.query(queryOptions, ([tab]) => {
      if (chrome.runtime.lastError)
      console.error(chrome.runtime.lastError);
      // `tab` will either be a `tabs.Tab` instance or `undefined`.
      callback(tab);
    });
  }

Mute the specified tab

This example shows how an extension can toggle the muted state for a given tab.

  async function toggleMuteState(tabId) {
    const tab = await chrome.tabs.get(tabId);
    const muted = !tab.mutedInfo.muted;
    await chrome.tabs.update(tabId, {muted});
    console.log(`Tab ${tab.id} is ${muted ? "muted" : "unmuted"}`);
  }


  function toggleMuteState(tabId) {
    chrome.tabs.get(tabId, async (tab) => {
      let muted = !tab.mutedInfo.muted;
      await chrome.tabs.update(tabId, { muted });
      console.log(`Tab ${tab.id} is ${ muted ? "muted" : "unmuted" }`);
    });
  }

Move the current tab to the first position when clicked

This example shows how to move a tab while a drag may or may not be in progress. While this example uses chrome.tabs.move, you can use the same waiting pattern for other calls that modify tabs while a drag is in progress.

  chrome.tabs.onActivated.addListener(moveToFirstPosition);

  async function moveToFirstPosition(activeInfo) {
    try {
      await chrome.tabs.move(activeInfo.tabId, {index: 0});
      console.log("Success.");
    } catch (error) {
      if (error == "Error: Tabs cannot be edited right now (user may be dragging a tab).") {
        setTimeout(() => moveToFirstPosition(activeInfo), 50);
      } else {
        console.error(error);
      }
    }
  }


  chrome.tabs.onActivated.addListener(moveToFirstPositionMV2);

  function moveToFirstPositionMV2(activeInfo) {
    chrome.tabs.move(activeInfo.tabId, { index: 0 }, () => {
      if (chrome.runtime.lastError) {
        const error = chrome.runtime.lastError;
        if (error == "Error: Tabs cannot be edited right now (user may be dragging a tab).") {
          setTimeout(() => moveToFirstPositionMV2(activeInfo), 50);
        } else {
          console.error(error);
        }
      } else {
        console.log("Success.");
      }
    });
  }

Pass a message to a selected tab's content script

This example demonstrates how an extension's service worker can communicate with content scripts in specific browser tabs using tabs.sendMessage().

function sendMessageToActiveTab(message) {
  const [tab] = await chrome.tabs.query({ active: true, lastFocusedWindow: true });
  const response = await chrome.tabs.sendMessage(tab.id, message);
  // TODO: Do something with the response.
}

Extension examples

For more Tabs API extensions demos, explore any of the following:

Types

MutedInfo

Chrome 46+

The tab's muted state and the reason for the last state change.

Properties

  • extensionId

    string optional

    The ID of the extension that changed the muted state. Not set if an extension was not the reason the muted state last changed.

  • muted

    boolean

    Whether the tab is muted (prevented from playing sound). The tab may be muted even if it has not played or is not currently playing sound. Equivalent to whether the 'muted' audio indicator is showing.

  • reason

    MutedInfoReason optional

    The reason the tab was muted or unmuted. Not set if the tab's mute state has never been changed.

MutedInfoReason

Chrome 46+

An event that caused a muted state change.

Enum

"user"
A user input action set the muted state.

"capture"
Tab capture was started, forcing a muted state change.

"extension"
An extension, identified by the extensionId field, set the muted state.

Tab

Properties

  • active

    boolean

    Whether the tab is active in its window. Does not necessarily mean the window is focused.

  • audible

    boolean optional

    Chrome 45+

    Whether the tab has produced sound over the past couple of seconds (but it might not be heard if also muted). Equivalent to whether the 'speaker audio' indicator is showing.

  • autoDiscardable

    boolean

    Chrome 54+

    Whether the tab can be discarded automatically by the browser when resources are low.

  • discarded

    boolean

    Chrome 54+

    Whether the tab is discarded. A discarded tab is one whose content has been unloaded from memory, but is still visible in the tab strip. Its content is reloaded the next time it is activated.

  • favIconUrl

    string optional

    The URL of the tab's favicon. This property is only present if the extension's manifest includes the "tabs" permission. It may also be an empty string if the tab is loading.

  • frozen

    boolean

    Pending

    Whether the tab is frozen. A frozen tab cannot execute tasks, including event handlers or timers. It is visible in the tab strip and its content is loaded in memory. It is unfrozen on activation.

  • groupId

    number

    Chrome 88+

    The ID of the group that the tab belongs to.

  • height

    number optional

    The height of the tab in pixels.

  • highlighted

    boolean

    Whether the tab is highlighted.

  • id

    number optional

    The ID of the tab. Tab IDs are unique within a browser session. Under some circumstances a tab may not be assigned an ID; for example, when querying foreign tabs using the sessions API, in which case a session ID may be present. Tab ID can also be set to chrome.tabs.TAB_ID_NONE for apps and devtools windows.

  • incognito

    boolean

    Whether the tab is in an incognito window.

  • index

    number

    The zero-based index of the tab within its window.

  • lastAccessed

    number

    Chrome 121+

    The last time the tab was accessed as the number of milliseconds since epoch.

  • mutedInfo

    MutedInfo optional

    Chrome 46+

    The tab's muted state and the reason for the last state change.

  • openerTabId

    number optional

    The ID of the tab that opened this tab, if any. This property is only present if the opener tab still exists.

  • pendingUrl

    string optional

    Chrome 79+

    The URL the tab is navigating to, before it has committed. This property is only present if the extension's manifest includes the "tabs" permission and there is a pending navigation.

  • pinned

    boolean

    Whether the tab is pinned.

  • selected

    boolean

    Deprecated

    Please use tabs.Tab.highlighted.

    Whether the tab is selected.

  • sessionId

    string optional

    The session ID used to uniquely identify a tab obtained from the sessions API.

  • status

    TabStatus optional

    The tab's loading status.

  • title

    string optional

    The title of the tab. This property is only present if the extension's manifest includes the "tabs" permission.

  • url

    string optional

    The last committed URL of the main frame of the tab. This property is only present if the extension's manifest includes the "tabs" permission and may be an empty string if the tab has not yet committed. See also Tab.pendingUrl.

  • width

    number optional

    The width of the tab in pixels.

  • windowId

    number

    The ID of the window that contains the tab.

TabStatus

Chrome 44+

The tab's loading status.

Enum

"unloaded"

"loading"

"complete"

WindowType

Chrome 44+

The type of window.

Enum

"normal"

"popup"

"panel"

"app"

"devtools"

ZoomSettings

Defines how zoom changes in a tab are handled and at what scope.

Properties

  • defaultZoomFactor

    number optional

    Chrome 43+

    Used to return the default zoom level for the current tab in calls to tabs.getZoomSettings.

  • mode

    ZoomSettingsMode optional

    Defines how zoom changes are handled, i.e., which entity is responsible for the actual scaling of the page; defaults to automatic.

  • scope

    ZoomSettingsScope optional

    Defines whether zoom changes persist for the page's origin, or only take effect in this tab; defaults to per-origin when in automatic mode, and per-tab otherwise.

ZoomSettingsMode

Chrome 44+

Defines how zoom changes are handled, i.e., which entity is responsible for the actual scaling of the page; defaults to automatic.

Enum

"automatic"
Zoom changes are handled automatically by the browser.

"manual"
Overrides the automatic handling of zoom changes. The onZoomChange event will still be dispatched, and it is the extension's responsibility to listen for this event and manually scale the page. This mode does not support per-origin zooming, and thus ignores the scope zoom setting and assumes per-tab.

"disabled"
Disables all zooming in the tab. The tab reverts to the default zoom level, and all attempted zoom changes are ignored.

ZoomSettingsScope

Chrome 44+

Defines whether zoom changes persist for the page's origin, or only take effect in this tab; defaults to per-origin when in automatic mode, and per-tab otherwise.

Enum

"per-origin"
Zoom changes persist in the zoomed page's origin, i.e., all other tabs navigated to that same origin are zoomed as well. Moreover, per-origin zoom changes are saved with the origin, meaning that when navigating to other pages in the same origin, they are all zoomed to the same zoom factor. The per-origin scope is only available in the automatic mode.

"per-tab"
Zoom changes only take effect in this tab, and zoom changes in other tabs do not affect the zooming of this tab. Also, per-tab zoom changes are reset on navigation; navigating a tab always loads pages with their per-origin zoom factors.

Properties

MAX_CAPTURE_VISIBLE_TAB_CALLS_PER_SECOND

Chrome 92+

The maximum number of times that captureVisibleTab can be called per second. captureVisibleTab is expensive and should not be called too often.

Value

2

TAB_ID_NONE

Chrome 46+

An ID that represents the absence of a browser tab.

Value

-1

TAB_INDEX_NONE

Chrome 123+

An index that represents the absence of a tab index in a tab_strip.

Value

-1

Methods

captureVisibleTab()

Promise 
chrome.tabs.captureVisibleTab(
  windowId?: number,
  options?: ImageDetails,
  callback?: function,
)

Captures the visible area of the currently active tab in the specified window. In order to call this method, the extension must have either the <all_urls> permission or the activeTab permission. In addition to sites that extensions can normally access, this method allows extensions to capture sensitive sites that are otherwise restricted, including chrome:-scheme pages, other extensions' pages, and data: URLs. These sensitive sites can only be captured with the activeTab permission. File URLs may be captured only if the extension has been granted file access.

Parameters

  • windowId

    number optional

    The target window. Defaults to the current window.

  • options

    ImageDetails optional

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (dataUrl: string) => void

    • dataUrl

      string

      A data URL that encodes an image of the visible area of the captured tab. May be assigned to the 'src' property of an HTML img element for display.

Returns

  • Promise<string>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

connect()

chrome.tabs.connect(
  tabId: number,
  connectInfo?: object,
)

Connects to the content script(s) in the specified tab. The runtime.onConnect event is fired in each content script running in the specified tab for the current extension. For more details, see Content Script Messaging.

Parameters

  • tabId

    number

  • connectInfo

    object optional

    • documentId

      string optional

      Chrome 106+

      Open a port to a specific document identified by documentId instead of all frames in the tab.

    • frameId

      number optional

      Open a port to a specific frame identified by frameId instead of all frames in the tab.

    • name

      string optional

      Is passed into onConnect for content scripts that are listening for the connection event.

Returns

  • A port that can be used to communicate with the content scripts running in the specified tab. The port's runtime.Port event is fired if the tab closes or does not exist.

create()

Promise 
chrome.tabs.create(
  createProperties: object,
  callback?: function,
)

Creates a new tab.

Parameters

  • createProperties

    object

    • active

      boolean optional

      Whether the tab should become the active tab in the window. Does not affect whether the window is focused (see windows.update). Defaults to true.

    • index

      number optional

      The position the tab should take in the window. The provided value is clamped to between zero and the number of tabs in the window.

    • openerTabId

      number optional

      The ID of the tab that opened this tab. If specified, the opener tab must be in the same window as the newly created tab.

    • pinned

      boolean optional

      Whether the tab should be pinned. Defaults to false

    • selected

      boolean optional

      Deprecated

      Please use active.

      Whether the tab should become the selected tab in the window. Defaults to true

    • url

      string optional

      The URL to initially navigate the tab to. Fully-qualified URLs must include a scheme (i.e., 'http://www.google.com', not 'www.google.com'). Relative URLs are relative to the current page within the extension. Defaults to the New Tab Page.

    • windowId

      number optional

      The window in which to create the new tab. Defaults to the current window.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (tab: Tab) => void

    • tab

      Tab

      The created tab.

Returns

  • Promise<Tab>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

detectLanguage()

Promise 
chrome.tabs.detectLanguage(
  tabId?: number,
  callback?: function,
)

Detects the primary language of the content in a tab.

Parameters

  • tabId

    number optional

    Defaults to the active tab of the current window.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (language: string) => void

    • language

      string

      An ISO language code such as en or fr. For a complete list of languages supported by this method, see kLanguageInfoTable. The second to fourth columns are checked and the first non-NULL value is returned, except for Simplified Chinese for which zh-CN is returned. For an unknown/undefined language, und is returned.

Returns

  • Promise<string>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

discard()

Promise Chrome 54+ 
chrome.tabs.discard(
  tabId?: number,
  callback?: function,
)

Discards a tab from memory. Discarded tabs are still visible on the tab strip and are reloaded when activated.

Parameters

  • tabId

    number optional

    The ID of the tab to be discarded. If specified, the tab is discarded unless it is active or already discarded. If omitted, the browser discards the least important tab. This can fail if no discardable tabs exist.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (tab?: Tab) => void

    • tab

      Tab optional

      The discarded tab, if it was successfully discarded; undefined otherwise.

Returns

  • Promise<Tab | undefined>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

duplicate()

Promise 
chrome.tabs.duplicate(
  tabId: number,
  callback?: function,
)

Duplicates a tab.

Parameters

  • tabId

    number

    The ID of the tab to duplicate.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (tab?: Tab) => void

    • tab

      Tab optional

      Details about the duplicated tab. The tabs.Tab object does not contain url, pendingUrl, title, and favIconUrl if the "tabs" permission has not been requested.

Returns

  • Promise<Tab | undefined>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

executeScript()

Promise &leq; MV2 Deprecated since Chrome 91
chrome.tabs.executeScript(
  tabId?: number,
  details: InjectDetails,
  callback?: function,
)

Replaced by scripting.executeScript in Manifest V3.

Injects JavaScript code into a page. For details, see the programmatic injection section of the content scripts doc.

Parameters

  • tabId

    number optional

    The ID of the tab in which to run the script; defaults to the active tab of the current window.

  • details

    InjectDetails

    Details of the script to run. Either the code or the file property must be set, but both may not be set at the same time.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (result?: any[]) => void

    • result

      any[] optional

      The result of the script in every injected frame.

Returns

  • Promise<any[] | undefined>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

get()

Promise 
chrome.tabs.get(
  tabId: number,
  callback?: function,
)

Retrieves details about the specified tab.

Parameters

  • tabId

    number

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (tab: Tab) => void

Returns

  • Promise<Tab>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

getAllInWindow()

Promise &leq; MV2 Deprecated
chrome.tabs.getAllInWindow(
  windowId?: number,
  callback?: function,
)

Please use tabs.query {windowId: windowId}.

Gets details about all tabs in the specified window.

Parameters

  • windowId

    number optional

    Defaults to the current window.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (tabs: Tab[]) => void

Returns

  • Promise<Tab[]>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

getCurrent()

Promise 
chrome.tabs.getCurrent(
  callback?: function,
)

Gets the tab that this script call is being made from. Returns undefined if called from a non-tab context (for example, a background page or popup view).

Parameters

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (tab?: Tab) => void

    • tab

      Tab optional

Returns

  • Promise<Tab | undefined>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

getSelected()

Promise &leq; MV2 Deprecated
chrome.tabs.getSelected(
  windowId?: number,
  callback?: function,
)

Please use tabs.query {active: true}.

Gets the tab that is selected in the specified window.

Parameters

  • windowId

    number optional

    Defaults to the current window.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (tab: Tab) => void

Returns

  • Promise<Tab>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

getZoom()

Promise 
chrome.tabs.getZoom(
  tabId?: number,
  callback?: function,
)

Gets the current zoom factor of a specified tab.

Parameters

  • tabId

    number optional

    The ID of the tab to get the current zoom factor from; defaults to the active tab of the current window.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (zoomFactor: number) => void

    • zoomFactor

      number

      The tab's current zoom factor.

Returns

  • Promise<number>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

getZoomSettings()

Promise 
chrome.tabs.getZoomSettings(
  tabId?: number,
  callback?: function,
)

Gets the current zoom settings of a specified tab.

Parameters

  • tabId

    number optional

    The ID of the tab to get the current zoom settings from; defaults to the active tab of the current window.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (zoomSettings: ZoomSettings) => void

    • zoomSettings

      ZoomSettings

      The tab's current zoom settings.

Returns

  • Promise<ZoomSettings>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

goBack()

Promise Chrome 72+ 
chrome.tabs.goBack(
  tabId?: number,
  callback?: function,
)

Go back to the previous page, if one is available.

Parameters

  • tabId

    number optional

    The ID of the tab to navigate back; defaults to the selected tab of the current window.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    () => void

Returns

  • Promise<void>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

goForward()

Promise Chrome 72+ 
chrome.tabs.goForward(
  tabId?: number,
  callback?: function,
)

Go foward to the next page, if one is available.

Parameters

  • tabId

    number optional

    The ID of the tab to navigate forward; defaults to the selected tab of the current window.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    () => void

Returns

  • Promise<void>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

group()

Promise Chrome 88+ 
chrome.tabs.group(
  options: object,
  callback?: function,
)

Adds one or more tabs to a specified group, or if no group is specified, adds the given tabs to a newly created group.

Parameters

  • options

    object

    • createProperties

      object optional

      Configurations for creating a group. Cannot be used if groupId is already specified.

      • windowId

        number optional

        The window of the new group. Defaults to the current window.

    • groupId

      number optional

      The ID of the group to add the tabs to. If not specified, a new group will be created.

    • tabIds

      number | [number, ...number[]]

      The tab ID or list of tab IDs to add to the specified group.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (groupId: number) => void

    • groupId

      number

      The ID of the group that the tabs were added to.

Returns

  • Promise<number>

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

highlight()

Promise 
chrome.tabs.highlight(
  highlightInfo: object,
  callback?: function,
)

Highlights the given tabs and focuses on the first of group. Will appear to do nothing if the specified tab is currently active.

Parameters

  • highlightInfo

    object

    • tabs

      number | number[]

      One or more tab indices to highlight.

    • windowId

      number optional

      The window that contains the tabs.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (window: Window) => void

    • window

      Window

      Contains details about the window whose tabs were highlighted.

Returns

  • Promise<windows.Window>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

insertCSS()

Promise &leq; MV2 Deprecated since Chrome 91
chrome.tabs.insertCSS(
  tabId?: number,
  details: InjectDetails,
  callback?: function,
)

Replaced by scripting.insertCSS in Manifest V3.

Injects CSS into a page. Styles inserted with this method can be removed with scripting.removeCSS. For details, see the programmatic injection section of the content scripts doc.

Parameters

  • tabId

    number optional

    The ID of the tab in which to insert the CSS; defaults to the active tab of the current window.

  • details

    InjectDetails

    Details of the CSS text to insert. Either the code or the file property must be set, but both may not be set at the same time.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    () => void

Returns

  • Promise<void>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

move()

Promise 
chrome.tabs.move(
  tabIds: number | number[],
  moveProperties: object,
  callback?: function,
)

Moves one or more tabs to a new position within its window, or to a new window. Note that tabs can only be moved to and from normal (window.type === "normal") windows.

Parameters

  • tabIds

    number | number[]

    The tab ID or list of tab IDs to move.

  • moveProperties

    object

    • index

      number

      The position to move the window to. Use -1 to place the tab at the end of the window.

    • windowId

      number optional

      Defaults to the window the tab is currently in.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (tabs: Tab | Tab[]) => void

    • tabs

      Tab | Tab[]

      Details about the moved tabs.

Returns

  • Promise<Tab | Tab[]>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

query()

Promise 
chrome.tabs.query(
  queryInfo: object,
  callback?: function,
)

Gets all tabs that have the specified properties, or all tabs if no properties are specified.

Parameters

  • queryInfo

    object

    • active

      boolean optional

      Whether the tabs are active in their windows.

    • audible

      boolean optional

      Chrome 45+

      Whether the tabs are audible.

    • autoDiscardable

      boolean optional

      Chrome 54+

      Whether the tabs can be discarded automatically by the browser when resources are low.

    • currentWindow

      boolean optional

      Whether the tabs are in the current window.

    • discarded

      boolean optional

      Chrome 54+

      Whether the tabs are discarded. A discarded tab is one whose content has been unloaded from memory, but is still visible in the tab strip. Its content is reloaded the next time it is activated.

    • frozen

      boolean optional

      Pending

      Whether the tabs are frozen. A frozen tab cannot execute tasks, including event handlers or timers. It is visible in the tab strip and its content is loaded in memory. It is unfrozen on activation.

    • groupId

      number optional

      Chrome 88+

      The ID of the group that the tabs are in, or tabGroups.TAB_GROUP_ID_NONE for ungrouped tabs.

    • highlighted

      boolean optional

      Whether the tabs are highlighted.

    • index

      number optional

      The position of the tabs within their windows.

    • lastFocusedWindow

      boolean optional

      Whether the tabs are in the last focused window.

    • muted

      boolean optional

      Chrome 45+

      Whether the tabs are muted.

    • pinned

      boolean optional

      Whether the tabs are pinned.

    • status

      TabStatus optional

      The tab loading status.

    • title

      string optional

      Match page titles against a pattern. This property is ignored if the extension does not have the "tabs" permission.

    • url

      string | string[] optional

      Match tabs against one or more URL patterns. Fragment identifiers are not matched. This property is ignored if the extension does not have the "tabs" permission.

    • windowId

      number optional

      The ID of the parent window, or windows.WINDOW_ID_CURRENT for the current window.

    • windowType

      WindowType optional

      The type of window the tabs are in.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (result: Tab[]) => void

Returns

  • Promise<Tab[]>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

reload()

Promise 
chrome.tabs.reload(
  tabId?: number,
  reloadProperties?: object,
  callback?: function,
)

Reload a tab.

Parameters

  • tabId

    number optional

    The ID of the tab to reload; defaults to the selected tab of the current window.

  • reloadProperties

    object optional

    • bypassCache

      boolean optional

      Whether to bypass local caching. Defaults to false.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    () => void

Returns

  • Promise<void>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

remove()

Promise 
chrome.tabs.remove(
  tabIds: number | number[],
  callback?: function,
)

Closes one or more tabs.

Parameters

  • tabIds

    number | number[]

    The tab ID or list of tab IDs to close.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    () => void

Returns

  • Promise<void>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

removeCSS()

Promise Chrome 87+ &leq; MV2 Deprecated since Chrome 91
chrome.tabs.removeCSS(
  tabId?: number,
  details: DeleteInjectionDetails,
  callback?: function,
)

Replaced by scripting.removeCSS in Manifest V3.

Removes from a page CSS that was previously injected by a call to scripting.insertCSS.

Parameters

  • tabId

    number optional

    The ID of the tab from which to remove the CSS; defaults to the active tab of the current window.

  • Details of the CSS text to remove. Either the code or the file property must be set, but both may not be set at the same time.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    () => void

Returns

  • Promise<void>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

sendMessage()

Promise 
chrome.tabs.sendMessage(
  tabId: number,
  message: any,
  options?: object,
  callback?: function,
)

Sends a single message to the content script(s) in the specified tab, with an optional callback to run when a response is sent back. The runtime.onMessage event is fired in each content script running in the specified tab for the current extension.

Parameters

  • tabId

    number

  • message

    any

    The message to send. This message should be a JSON-ifiable object.

  • options

    object optional

    • documentId

      string optional

      Chrome 106+

      Send a message to a specific document identified by documentId instead of all frames in the tab.

    • frameId

      number optional

      Send a message to a specific frame identified by frameId instead of all frames in the tab.

  • callback

    function optional

    Chrome 99+

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (response: any) => void

    • response

      any

      The JSON response object sent by the handler of the message. If an error occurs while connecting to the specified tab, the callback is called with no arguments and runtime.lastError is set to the error message.

Returns

  • Promise<any>

    Chrome 99+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

sendRequest()

Promise &leq; MV2 Deprecated
chrome.tabs.sendRequest(
  tabId: number,
  request: any,
  callback?: function,
)

Please use runtime.sendMessage.

Sends a single request to the content script(s) in the specified tab, with an optional callback to run when a response is sent back. The extension.onRequest event is fired in each content script running in the specified tab for the current extension.

Parameters

  • tabId

    number

  • request

    any

  • callback

    function optional

    Chrome 99+

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (response: any) => void

    • response

      any

      The JSON response object sent by the handler of the request. If an error occurs while connecting to the specified tab, the callback is called with no arguments and runtime.lastError is set to the error message.

Returns

  • Promise<any>

    Chrome 99+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

setZoom()

Promise 
chrome.tabs.setZoom(
  tabId?: number,
  zoomFactor: number,
  callback?: function,
)

Zooms a specified tab.

Parameters

  • tabId

    number optional

    The ID of the tab to zoom; defaults to the active tab of the current window.

  • zoomFactor

    number

    The new zoom factor. A value of 0 sets the tab to its current default zoom factor. Values greater than 0 specify a (possibly non-default) zoom factor for the tab.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    () => void

Returns

  • Promise<void>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

setZoomSettings()

Promise 
chrome.tabs.setZoomSettings(
  tabId?: number,
  zoomSettings: ZoomSettings,
  callback?: function,
)

Sets the zoom settings for a specified tab, which define how zoom changes are handled. These settings are reset to defaults upon navigating the tab.

Parameters

  • tabId

    number optional

    The ID of the tab to change the zoom settings for; defaults to the active tab of the current window.

  • zoomSettings

    ZoomSettings

    Defines how zoom changes are handled and at what scope.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    () => void

Returns

  • Promise<void>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

ungroup()

Promise Chrome 88+ 
chrome.tabs.ungroup(
  tabIds: number | [number, ...number[]],
  callback?: function,
)

Removes one or more tabs from their respective groups. If any groups become empty, they are deleted.

Parameters

  • tabIds

    number | [number, ...number[]]

    The tab ID or list of tab IDs to remove from their respective groups.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    () => void

Returns

  • Promise<void>

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

update()

Promise 
chrome.tabs.update(
  tabId?: number,
  updateProperties: object,
  callback?: function,
)

Modifies the properties of a tab. Properties that are not specified in updateProperties are not modified.

Parameters

  • tabId

    number optional

    Defaults to the selected tab of the current window.

  • updateProperties

    object

    • active

      boolean optional

      Whether the tab should be active. Does not affect whether the window is focused (see windows.update).

    • autoDiscardable

      boolean optional

      Chrome 54+

      Whether the tab should be discarded automatically by the browser when resources are low.

    • highlighted

      boolean optional

      Adds or removes the tab from the current selection.

    • muted

      boolean optional

      Chrome 45+

      Whether the tab should be muted.

    • openerTabId

      number optional

      The ID of the tab that opened this tab. If specified, the opener tab must be in the same window as this tab.

    • pinned

      boolean optional

      Whether the tab should be pinned.

    • selected

      boolean optional

      Deprecated

      Please use highlighted.

      Whether the tab should be selected.

    • url

      string optional

      A URL to navigate the tab to. JavaScript URLs are not supported; use scripting.executeScript instead.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (tab?: Tab) => void

    • tab

      Tab optional

      Details about the updated tab. The tabs.Tab object does not contain url, pendingUrl, title, and favIconUrl if the "tabs" permission has not been requested.

Returns

  • Promise<Tab | undefined>

    Chrome 88+

    Promises are supported in Manifest V3 and later, but callbacks are provided for backward compatibility. You cannot use both on the same function call. The promise resolves with the same type that is passed to the callback.

Events

onActivated

chrome.tabs.onActivated.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Fires when the active tab in a window changes. Note that the tab's URL may not be set at the time this event fired, but you can listen to onUpdated events so as to be notified when a URL is set.

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (activeInfo: object) => void

    • activeInfo

      object

      • tabId

        number

        The ID of the tab that has become active.

      • windowId

        number

        The ID of the window the active tab changed inside of.

onActiveChanged

&leq; MV2 Deprecated
chrome.tabs.onActiveChanged.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Please use tabs.onActivated.

Fires when the selected tab in a window changes. Note that the tab's URL may not be set at the time this event fired, but you can listen to tabs.onUpdated events so as to be notified when a URL is set.

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (tabId: number, selectInfo: object) => void

    • tabId

      number

    • selectInfo

      object

      • windowId

        number

        The ID of the window the selected tab changed inside of.

onAttached

chrome.tabs.onAttached.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Fired when a tab is attached to a window; for example, because it was moved between windows.

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (tabId: number, attachInfo: object) => void

    • tabId

      number

    • attachInfo

      object

      • newPosition

        number

      • newWindowId

        number

onCreated

chrome.tabs.onCreated.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Fired when a tab is created. Note that the tab's URL and tab group membership may not be set at the time this event is fired, but you can listen to onUpdated events so as to be notified when a URL is set or the tab is added to a tab group.

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (tab: Tab) => void

onDetached

chrome.tabs.onDetached.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Fired when a tab is detached from a window; for example, because it was moved between windows.

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (tabId: number, detachInfo: object) => void

    • tabId

      number

    • detachInfo

      object

      • oldPosition

        number

      • oldWindowId

        number

onHighlightChanged

&leq; MV2 Deprecated
chrome.tabs.onHighlightChanged.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Please use tabs.onHighlighted.

Fired when the highlighted or selected tabs in a window changes.

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (selectInfo: object) => void

    • selectInfo

      object

      • tabIds

        number[]

        All highlighted tabs in the window.

      • windowId

        number

        The window whose tabs changed.

onHighlighted

chrome.tabs.onHighlighted.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Fired when the highlighted or selected tabs in a window changes.

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (highlightInfo: object) => void

    • highlightInfo

      object

      • tabIds

        number[]

        All highlighted tabs in the window.

      • windowId

        number

        The window whose tabs changed.

onMoved

chrome.tabs.onMoved.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Fired when a tab is moved within a window. Only one move event is fired, representing the tab the user directly moved. Move events are not fired for the other tabs that must move in response to the manually-moved tab. This event is not fired when a tab is moved between windows; for details, see tabs.onDetached.

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (tabId: number, moveInfo: object) => void

    • tabId

      number

    • moveInfo

      object

      • fromIndex

        number

      • toIndex

        number

      • windowId

        number

onRemoved

chrome.tabs.onRemoved.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Fired when a tab is closed.

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (tabId: number, removeInfo: object) => void

    • tabId

      number

    • removeInfo

      object

      • isWindowClosing

        boolean

        True when the tab was closed because its parent window was closed.

      • windowId

        number

        The window whose tab is closed.

onReplaced

chrome.tabs.onReplaced.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Fired when a tab is replaced with another tab due to prerendering or instant.

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (addedTabId: number, removedTabId: number) => void

    • addedTabId

      number

    • removedTabId

      number

onSelectionChanged

&leq; MV2 Deprecated
chrome.tabs.onSelectionChanged.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Please use tabs.onActivated.

Fires when the selected tab in a window changes.

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (tabId: number, selectInfo: object) => void

    • tabId

      number

    • selectInfo

      object

      • windowId

        number

        The ID of the window the selected tab changed inside of.

onUpdated

chrome.tabs.onUpdated.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Fired when a tab is updated.

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (tabId: number, changeInfo: object, tab: Tab) => void

    • tabId

      number

    • changeInfo

      object

      • audible

        boolean optional

        Chrome 45+

        The tab's new audible state.

      • autoDiscardable

        boolean optional

        Chrome 54+

        The tab's new auto-discardable state.

      • discarded

        boolean optional

        Chrome 54+

        The tab's new discarded state.

      • favIconUrl

        string optional

        The tab's new favicon URL.

      • frozen

        boolean optional

        Pending

        The tab's new frozen state.

      • groupId

        number optional

        Chrome 88+

        The tab's new group.

      • mutedInfo

        MutedInfo optional

        Chrome 46+

        The tab's new muted state and the reason for the change.

      • pinned

        boolean optional

        The tab's new pinned state.

      • status

        TabStatus optional

        The tab's loading status.

      • title

        string optional

        Chrome 48+

        The tab's new title.

      • url

        string optional

        The tab's URL if it has changed.

    • tab

      Tab

onZoomChange

chrome.tabs.onZoomChange.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Fired when a tab is zoomed.

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (ZoomChangeInfo: object) => void

    • ZoomChangeInfo

      object

      • newZoomFactor

        number

      • oldZoomFactor

        number

      • tabId

        number

      • zoomSettings

        ZoomSettings