Tab Slot par Chen Guo

Tab Slot is a small browser extension for launcher shortcuts, bookmarks, and automation tools that open web pages. It turns a marked URL into a reusable browser tab: the first launch opens the page, and later launches return to that tab instead of leaving duplicate tabs behind.

Why it exists

Launcher shortcuts are fast, but browser shortcuts often create clutter. A search shortcut can open a new Google tab every time. A docs shortcut can leave several copies of the same documentation site. A dashboard shortcut can open a fresh dashboard instead of returning to the tab where you already adjusted filters or drilled into a detail page.

Tab Slot treats the tab as the thing you want to return to. The slot keeps pointing at the same browser tab even after you browse away from the original URL.

How a slot works

1. You open a marked URL, such as https://example.com/docs###docs.
2. Tab Slot removes the marker and opens the clean URL.
3. The extension stores the slot name, browser tab ID, and initial URL in local browser storage.
4. The next time the same slot opens, Tab Slot returns to the existing tab if it still exists.
5. If the tab is gone, Tab Slot opens the clean URL again and binds the slot to the new tab.

Slot names

A slot name is the stable name for a browser tab or job. Use the same slot name when different shortcuts should return to one shared tab.

https://example.com/docs###docs

You can also leave the slot name empty:

https://example.com/docs###

With an empty slot name, Tab Slot uses the clean URL itself as the slot name. This is useful when you want one reusable tab for that exact starting page and do not need to invent a name.

What a slot means

A slot represents the job you are doing, not just the first URL you opened. A search slot can keep returning to the search tab you are already using. A docs slot can follow you from the docs home into an API page or guide. A dashboard slot can keep your current filters, time range, or drill-down page.

Address bar display

Your browser may display the same marked URL with escaped hash characters:

https://example.com/docs#%23%23docs

That is normal. Tab Slot recognizes both forms.

Toolbar indicator

When the current tab is a saved slot, Tab Slot shows a status dot on the extension icon and the popup names the current slot. Pin Tab Slot to the browser toolbar if you want to see the indicator.

Forgetting a slot

The popup lists saved slots. Use Forget to remove a saved slot from Tab Slot's local storage. The browser tab stays open; only the slot binding is forgotten.

Advanced URL format

The short marker is easiest to write by hand. Apps and automation tools can also generate a versioned marker when they need an explicit slot name while preserving the original URL exactly:

https://example.com/docs###tabslot:v1:<base64url-json>

The payload is UTF-8 JSON encoded with URL-safe Base64. Padding can be omitted. Example decoded JSON:

{"slot":"docs","url":"https://example.com/docs","behavior":"return"}

Fields:

• slot: required. The slot name to create or reuse. It must be a non-empty string after trimming spaces.
• url: optional. The clean http or https URL to open after the marker is removed. When omitted, Tab Slot uses the URL before the marker.
• behavior: optional. Use replace to navigate an existing slot tab to url. Omit it, or use return, to focus the existing slot tab without changing its page.

Use this versioned format when a script or app generates marked URLs for you.

Warning: behavior:"replace" navigates the existing slot tab away from its current page. Browser Back may return to the previous page, but unsaved form data or in-page state can be lost.

Browser restarts

Browsers identify tabs with temporary tab IDs. After a browser restart or session restore, a saved tab ID may no longer point to a usable tab. When that happens, the next slot URL opens as a new clean tab and becomes the saved slot again.

Privacy

Tab Slot does not use a remote service. Slot data stays in your browser profile and is used only to create, reuse, forget, and display tab slots. It does not use host permissions or content scripts, and it does not read page content.

Read the Tab Slot Privacy Policy for the precise data handling details.