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Google Chrome goes http-less

Summary: Have you ever wondered why people put http:// in front of website addresses? Well, without getting into the details, it actually an important part of how the web works.

Garett Rogers

By Garett Rogers for Googling Google |

Have you ever wondered why people put http:// in front of website addresses? Well, without getting into the details, it actually an important part of how the web works.

In the latest Google Chrome dev build, when you go to a website, it simply removes the http:// from the front of website addresses -- presumably because it cleans things up a bit.

I don't think it makes much of a difference actually -- considering I never even noticed what was happening until I read Zack Whittaker about the new "feature". Simplicity is a good thing -- but sometimes it's easy to over-think things.

Personally, I believe Google should put the http:// back in -- after learning what is happening, it gone makes the browser feel a bit inconsistent. For example, when you visit a website that is "secure" (https://), or view a directory on your computer (file:///C:/), the front part isn't automatically removed -- and probably shouldn't be.

What's your vote?

Topics: Browser, Google

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25 comments
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  • I say get rid of it. If you are using ftp, ok to put ftp://.

    On the https, I think it would be better to have
    another type of indication to show it is secure,
    since the one extra letter is not that obvious.
    DonnieBoy
    Reply Vote

  • It ain't broke so Google shouldn't 'fix' it

    Donnie on the other hand...

    ;-)
    tonymcs@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Google Chrome goes http-less

    Doesnt' matter..but sometimes I would check if I am on secured site or not looking at the URL. especially when I am doing bank transactions. So I think Its better its there..anyway its not a great feature to remove it...also it will be easy for me to copy paste with http:// there..otherwise I will have to prefix http:// when I want to copy paste the URL somewhere else.
    vijjuk
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Google Chrome goes http-less

    I often look at the URL to find if its http/https, so
    Google should better let it be there.
    abdurRaheem2
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Google Chrome goes http-less

    if a site is secure (using ssl or 'https') you
    shouldnt rely on the 'https' part and say its secure,
    you should take a look at the certificate check (in
    the right side of the address bar in chrome, bottom
    right in ff/ie) and verify that the certificate is
    valid for that site. Anyone can host their site off of
    port 443 and add in a dummy certificate, making sure
    it actually belongs to them and is valid/up to date is
    the real trick.

    as for the url protocol prefix, i think google should
    leave it.
    Zlatko.Lakisic
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Google Chrome goes http-less

    Only "http" is removed, not "https","ftp" or "file". At least this is the case in my version of Chrome (5.0.375.9 dev).
    janiah
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Google Chrome goes http-less

    Must be a Windows feature only. My Chrome for Mac still has
    http:// for this very article and is up to date.
    becorson@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Google Chrome goes http-less

    Put it back. At some point, they will need it. Perhaps this is just another way Google is trying to take over the world. If some other browsers require the http:// the newbies will not know this as they will be used to not using it in Chrome. So the newbies will be forced to continue to use Chrome. I love Google, but every move they make has a reason. EVERY MOVE... They removed the http://, just to be nice, clean it up??? No way, there us a reason...
    cmathis@...
    Reply Vote

  • Bad idea, like hiding filename extensions

    Same bad idea as hiding filename extensions.

    Mozilla automatically prepends it if you don't type it, so I guess its OK as long as none of the deviations are hidden.
    wkulecz
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Google Chrome goes http-less

    Leave it alone...stop trying to assume what the user needs/wants and actually give them something useful!
    Kevin_C_K
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Google Chrome goes http-less

    How do Google results bypass the traditional http:// and www. in the results to deliver only domainname.com ?
    traubsc@...
    Reply Vote

  • Change the prefix for a cute icon

    A Chrome Logo (HTTP)
    A Lock (HTTPS)
    A Pump (FTP)
    A Folder (File)

    etc.

    Some indication is necessary, the text is not.
    Red_Beard
    Reply Vote

  • Ready for spdy:// ?

    I wonder if this is also in preparation for
    Google's proposed spdy protocol. Maybe it's
    premature, but in the mean time it just clears
    some space. I rarely type http - or even www for
    that matter.
    Joshua Talley
    Reply Vote

  • Agree w/ Red_Beard and...

    ...it's likely what "Heavensword" suggests.

    BTW, another thing that makes useless the
    ptotocol string is that when a site uses HTTPS
    the browser is alreay alerting us in any way,
    usually the address bar gets yellow, a lock
    icon appears and/or the signing company of the
    certificate appears too.

    Anyway, I hate to type the protocol, it's
    annoying and
    "the newbies" even knows what the HTTP/S means,
    so I
    think it's ok to remove it.

    Hey IE team, pages doesn't works on your
    product unless I type SEVEN annoying chars each
    and
    every time I want to browse something! Could
    you
    (please) apply *sense* to your logics?


    Cheers,
    Pampa
    nanomartin
    Reply Vote

  • without getting into the details

    Am I supposed to take your word for it because you write in an article and state:
    "Have you ever wondered why people put http:// in front of website addresses? Well, without getting into the details, it actually an important part of how the web works."
    I would like it explained to me so that I have some basis for understanding the issue. Then I might have enough information to reach a conclusion.
    taxman.roger@...
    Reply Vote

  • This change is not for people like you...

    People like you and I who understand what the HTTP
    stands for aren't the people for whom this change was
    made.

    It was made for the countless other, non-techie folks (like
    my 63 year old father who has no idea what HTTP stands
    for and wouldn't care even if I told him) that Google made
    this simplification. People like that don't care (and
    shouldn't have to care) what protocol is being used. They
    want to go to zdnet.com and so they should type and see
    nothing but zdet.com in their address bar.

    I think Google is doing a good service by simplifying our
    address bars, recovering lost screen real estate (especially
    now that we are in the era of mobile internet) and making
    the web more accessible to non-techie folks.
    aslam_nathoo
    Reply Vote

  • It's like hiding extensions

    Just like "Hide extensions for known filetypes," it might be prettier for casual users, but it's a detriment to those of us who want to know how things are working. Thus, there should be an option for us to re-show it.<br><br>Now, when I see that odd-looking address, I have to stop for a second and mentally add "http://" back in. That's a waste of time and energy and that makes it a bad UX decision.
    P1h3r1e3d13
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Google Chrome goes http-less

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  • RE: Google Chrome goes http-less

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  • RE: Google Chrome goes http-less

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