236951 - Enable non-href link recognition

Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

(Firefox :: General, enhancement)

Description

[Reinout van Schouwen]

I hope this is the right component; if not please correct.

It would be nice if the browser could recognize a URL which isn't a HREF in the
HTML source. Often you come across URLs that aren't "active" so you have to
select them, copy them, and past them in the location bar.

My proposal is that Mozilla would automatically recognize those plain-text URLs
when either:
- the mouse pointer hovers over one; it could dynamically underline the link in
that case
- text which is parsable as an URL is selected and right-clicked. The context
menu could show an option 'Open in new window/tab' like it does with normal links.

Comment 1

[Benedikt Kantus]

The problem with this is that Mozilla would have to display the page in a
different way than the designer and the source code specify.

Comment 2

[Reinout van Schouwen]

In the second example, there's no different rendering then intended.
Apart from that, the user should always be able to specify their own style
sheets etc. The web site maker should have no definite control over how the site
is rendered, but can only give suggestions.

Comment 3

[Reinout van Schouwen]

Setting Product to Core because it's also relevant for Firefox.

Comment 4

[timeless]

it may be relevant, but the new component isn't. and afaik there's no component
in core that is. if you need the bug for both products, file a second bug and
cross reference them.

Comment 5

[Reinout van Schouwen]

Moving to Firefox, then.

Comment 6

[Matthew Flaschen]

Try http://www.cs.utexas.edu/~jchien/code/ftu.html

Comment 7

[:Felipe Gomes (needinfo for replies!)]

This is a feature that we can't do in the browser as we can't second-guess the reasons that a webpage created its content the way it is, but there are various add-ons that provides this kind of feature for users who want it.