BlockURL — BeatLink

Overview

BlockURL is a Firefox extension to block a specific URL or link. Unlike other blockers, it doesn't work on a domain or subdomain but on a specific URL. This is mainly useful for blocking visited articles, videos, pages and other content.

BlockURL uses a self hosted Python Flask server in order to store all of the URLs that are blocked as well as the text for the blocked page. This enables an unlimited number of URLs to be stored, with the only limitations being SQLite and the filesystem. The sync server is hosted on DockerHub.

Rationale

The internet is vast, but the parts we visit tend to repeat themselves. Recommendation algorithms, shared links, and search results frequently resurface content you have already seen — articles you have already read, videos you have already watched, pages you have already visited. Every time that happens, you have to consciously recognise and skip it, which adds up to a surprising amount of wasted time and mental effort over the course of a day.

BlockURL solves this by permanently hiding content once you have seen it. Rather than blocking entire domains or topics, it targets the exact URL of the specific page or video you want to dismiss, leaving the rest of the site fully accessible. The result is a cleaner, faster browsing experience where your attention is always directed toward something new.

This is particularly useful on content-heavy platforms where the same videos, articles, or posts tend to resurface repeatedly. Instead of relying on your memory to filter out old content, BlockURL does it automatically — so you can spend less time skipping things you have already seen and more time discovering things you have not.

Features

• One-click blocking — block any page instantly from your browser toolbar, without interrupting your browsing flow.
• URL-level precision — unlike traditional blockers that target entire domains, BlockURL targets the exact URL of a specific page, article, or video, leaving the rest of the site fully accessible.
• Permanent dismissal — blocked pages are replaced with a customisable blocked page, so previously seen content stays out of sight permanently.
• Customisable blocked page — configure the heading, body text, and button to match your preferences.
• Import and export — back up your block list or transfer it between devices with a simple import and export.
• Unlimited block list — store as many URLs as you need, with no artificial limits beyond your own storage.
• Self hosted sync server — all data lives on a server you own and control, with no third party involvement and no data sharing.

AI Use Policy

This project makes use of AI assistance during development. Specifically, Claude Sonnet 4.6 by Anthropic is used to help with code development, documentation, and written content including this README.

All AI-generated output is reviewed, edited, and approved by a human (BeatLink) before being incorporated into the project. AI is used as a development aid, not a replacement for human judgement — final decisions on code correctness, security, and content accuracy rest with the project maintainers (BeatLink).

Source Code
For source code and further documentation, please go here github.com/BeatLink/BlockURL