Rekonq: Difference between revisions

From KDE UserBase Wiki
m (correct link typographically (see /Toolbox#Add_a_link))
No edit summary
 
(24 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Template:I18n/Language Navigation Bar|Rekonq}}
<languages />
<translate>
{{Proposed_deletion|Rekonq does not seem to be developed anymore}}


[[Image:Rekonq.png|256px|thumb|left|rekonq 0.4.0]]
<!--T:1-->
{|class=vertical-centered
|[[Image:Rekonq.png|256px|thumb|left|rekonq 0.5.0]]||'''The fast, simple WebKit-based KDE browser'''
|}</translate>
<translate>
==Introduction== <!--T:2-->


The fast, simple WebKit-based KDE browser
<!--T:3-->
Based initially on ''qtwebkit'' (and currently on ''kdewebkit''), '''rekonq''' is a lightweight browser designed to use the '''WebKit''' rendering engine in combination with various KDE technologies, allowing it to integrate seamlessly into the KDE desktop. The name is a throwback to the venerable khtml-based [[Special:myLanguage/Konqueror|Konqueror]] which is currently the default KDE web browser.


=Introduction=
<!--T:4-->
'''rekonq''' has already replaced '''Konqueror''' as the default browser in Chakra and Kubuntu, with more distributions expressing similar intent for their future releases. The current stable release version is '''rekonq 0.7.0'''.


Based initially on qtwebkit (and currently on kdewebkit), rekonq is a lightweight browser designed to use the WebKit rendering engine in combination with various KDE technologies, allowing it to integrate seamlessly into the KDE desktop. The name is a throwback to the venerable khtml-based [[Konqueror]] which is currently the default KDE web browser.
==Interface== <!--T:5-->


rekonq has already replaced Konqueror as the default browser in Chakra, with more distributions expressing similar intent for their future releases. The current stable release version is rekonq 0.4.0.
<!--T:6-->
[[Image:Rekonq-toolbar.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.5.0 main toolbar]]


=Interface=
<!--T:7-->
By default, the '''rekonq''' window uses only one toolbar. This main toolbar consists of four navigation buttons (<menuchoice>back</menuchoice>, <menuchoice>forward</menuchoice>, <menuchoice>home</menuchoice>, <menuchoice>reload/stop</menuchoice>), the URL bar and two menu/buttons, one for <menuchoice>bookmarks</menuchoice> and one for the <menuchoice>settings</menuchoice>. This minimalist approach to the main toolbar marks the most significant user-interface departure from the traditional multi-toolbar paradigm followed by most other browsers like '''Konqueror'''.


[[Image:Rekonq-toolbar.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.4.0 main toolbar]]
<!--T:8-->
Further, the main toolbar offers only limited customization - <menuchoice>orientation</menuchoice> (locked at the top of the window, by default), <menuchoice>icon size</menuchoice> (medium, by default) and <menuchoice>icon labels</menuchoice> (not shown, by default). This helps keep the '''rekonq''' UI simple and puts the focus on the webpage on display.


By default, the rekonq window uses only one toolbar. This main toolbar consists of four navigation buttons (back, forward, home, reload/stop), the URL bar and two menu/buttons, one for bookmarks and one for the settings. This minimalist approach to the main toolbar marks the most significant user-interface departure from the traditional multi-toolbar paradigm followed by most other browsers like Konqueror.
<!--T:9-->
[[Image:Rekonq-urlbar.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.5.0 URL bar]]


Further, the main toolbar offers only limited customization - orientation (locked at the top of the window, by default), icon size (medium, by default) and icon labels (not shown, by default). This helps keep the rekonq UI simple and puts the focus on the webpage on display.
<!--T:10-->
Version 0.5.0 introduces the tech preview of a vastly improved URL bar that offers access to search engines from the drop down completion list itself. The completion list is also populated by matching items from your history and bookmarks.


[[Image:Rekonq-newtab.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.4.0 new tab page]]
<!--T:11-->
[[Image:Rekonq-newtab.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.5.0 new tab page]]


When started, rekonq displays the New Tab page, much of which is taken by a set of preview thumbnails of favorite webpages. These thumbnails offer a speedy way for the user to access their most frequently used webpages. There is also a pane at the top of this page allows the user to switch to previews of recently closed tabs and lists of bookmarked webpages and browsing history.
<!--T:12-->
When started, '''rekonq''' displays the New Tab page, much of which is taken by a set of preview thumbnails of favorite webpages. These thumbnails offer a speedy way for the user to access their most frequently used webpages. There is also a pane at the top of this page allows the user to switch to previews of recently closed tabs and lists of bookmarked webpages, download and browsing histories.


[[Image:Rekonq-panels.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.4.0 hidden UI elements]]
<!--T:13-->
[[Image:Rekonq-panels.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.5.0 hidden UI elements]]


Further configuration options activate several other UI elements hidden by default. These include a toolbar for bookmars, a panel (a panel, being a mini-window that can be resized, detached or re-docked in the main window) each for bookmarks and history and a web inspector panel (handy for web development).
<!--T:14-->
Further configuration options activate several other UI elements hidden by default. These include a toolbar for bookmarks, a panel (a panel, being a mini-window that can be resized, detached or re-docked in the main window) each for bookmarks and history and a web inspector panel (handy for web development).


=Features=
==Features== <!--T:15-->


Under its minimalist appearance, rekonq packs a full set of powerful features. Some of them are described below:
<!--T:16-->
Under its minimalist appearance, '''rekonq''' packs a full set of powerful features. Some of them are described below:


==KDE integration==
===KDE integration=== <!--T:17-->


rekonq is designed with the aim of being a '''KDE''' browser. And it shows;
<!--T:18-->
'''rekonq''' is designed with the aim of being a KDE browser. And it shows;


===Appearance===
====Appearance==== <!--T:19-->


<!--T:20-->
It obeys your themes, fonts, window decoration, menu highlighting, and many personalization options you set for your desktop.  
It obeys your themes, fonts, window decoration, menu highlighting, and many personalization options you set for your desktop.  


===Preferred applications===
====Applications==== <!--T:21-->


[[Image:Rekonq-defaultapplications.png|384px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.4.0 will open a pdf file in Okular by default]]
<!--T:22-->
[[Image:Rekonq-okularkpart.png|384px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.5.0 opens a pdf file in a [[Special:myLanguage/Okular|Okular]] '''kpart''']]


rekonq will use your chosen default applications to handle file types. Text files will open in [[KWrite]], pdf files will open in [[Okular]] and media files will open in [[Dragon Player]] (unless you chose otherwise).
<!--T:23-->
'''rekonq''' plays well with other applications in the KDE family. '''rekonq''' will always use your chosen default applications to handle file types. PDF files, for example will open in an embedded [[Special:myLanguage/Okular|Okular]] '''kpart''' within '''rekonq''' itself. Media files will open in [[Special:myLanguage/Dragon Player|Dragon Player]] (or any other designated default application for that filetype).


Similarly, rekonq can use [[KGet|KGet]] to handle all its downloads.
<!--T:24-->
[[Image:Bookmarkseditor.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.5.0 shares bookmarks etc. with Konqueror]]


===KDE services===
<!--T:25-->
Bookmarks, web shortcuts (more on these later), cookies and authentication information are shared with '''Konqueror'''. You will see the same set of bookmarks from either application and you can log onto a website in '''Konqueror''' and carry on seamlessly if you decide to switch to '''rekonq'''. Your passwords are stored securely in [[Special:myLanguage/KDE_Wallet_Manager|KWallet]] and can be used from either '''Konqueror''' or '''rekonq'''.


[[Image:Bookmarkseditor.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.4.0 shares bookmarks etc. with Konqueror]]
<!--T:26-->
Your downloads can be optionally handled by [[Special:myLanguage/KGet|KGet]]. Feeds from websites can be saved to '''Akregator''' (or '''Google Reader''').


rekonq plays nice with other KDE applications. Bookmarks, web shortcuts (more on these later), cookies and authentication information are shared with Konqueror. You will see the same set of bookmarks from either application and you can log onto a website on Konqueror and carry on seamlessly if you decide to switch to rekonq. Your passwords are stored securely in [[KDE_Wallet_Manager|KWallet]] and can be used from either Konqueror or rekonq. Your downloads can be optionally handled by kget.
<!--T:27-->
{|class="tablecenter vertical-centered"
|[[Image:Rekonq-akregator.png|300px|thumb|rekonq 0.5.0 + Akregator]]||[[Image:Rekonq-kget.png|100px|thumb|rekonq 0.5.0 + kget]]
|}
 
===Services=== <!--T:28-->


====KIO support====
====KIO support==== <!--T:29-->


<!--T:30-->
[[Image:Rekonq-ftp.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.4.0 browsing an ftp share]]
[[Image:Rekonq-ftp.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.4.0 browsing an ftp share]]


rekonq supports KIO services, including cookies, cache, proxies and network settings. KIO-slaves like file:/, ftp:/, man:/, help:/, info:/ etc will work in rekonq, too.
<!--T:31-->
 
'''rekonq''' supports KIO services, including cookies, cache, proxies and network settings. ''KIO-slaves'' like file:/, ftp:/, man:/, help:/, info:/ etc will work in rekonq, too.
====KDE dialogs====
 
In addition to all this, rekonq uses KDE's own file dialog for opening/saving documents. This means, you have access to the Places sidebar from Dolphin while you open or save documents.
 
Thus, rekonq looks, feels and behaves like a part of your KDE desktop.
 
==Webkit engine==
rekonq uses the open source WebKit rendering engine which incidentally began life as a branch of the khtml/kjs libraries from the KDE project. WebKit is fast, powerful and used by many other popular browsers today including Google's Chrome/chromium, Apple's Safari and others.
 
==Auto-load/click-to-load plugins==


[[Image:Rekonq-manualplugins-youtube.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.4.0 demonstrating the click-to-load-plugins feature on youtube.com]]
====Dialogs==== <!--T:32-->


<!--T:33-->
In addition to all this, '''rekonq''' uses KDE's own file dialog for opening/saving documents. This means, you have access to the ''Places'' sidebar from '''Dolphin''' while you open or save documents.


One of the benefits of using the WebKit engine, plugins can be disabled from automatically loading. This comes in handy to surf websites fast, without being bogged down by flash plugins. In the so-called Click-to-load mode, you will instead see a button that you can click on to activate the plugin.
<!--T:34-->
Thus, '''rekonq''' looks, feels and behaves like a part of your KDE desktop.


==Adblock support==
==WebKit engine== <!--T:35-->


[[Image:Rekonq-adblock.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.4.0 blocking images on kde-apps.org]]
<!--T:36-->
'''rekonq''' uses the open source '''WebKit''' rendering engine which incidentally began life as a branch of the khtml/kjs libraries from the KDE project. '''WebKit''' is fast, powerful and used by many other popular browsers today including Google's '''Chrome/chromium''', Apple's '''Safari''' and others.


You can set up filters to block loading of elements from webpages that match a set of filters. You can download and import published filterlists into rekonq to block most of the unwanted ads or you can add custom search filters yourself.
==Auto-load/click-to-load plugins== <!--T:37-->


==Web shortcuts support==
<!--T:38-->
rekonq allows you to pick from an extensive list of web shortcuts - these are keywords that allow you to search the web quickly. For instance, entering gg:KDE in the location bar will search Google for 'KDE', while wp:KDE will search wikipedia for 'KDE'. There are dozens of these defined by default. You can edit these or even define custom shortcuts to search on your favorite websites.
[[Image:Rekonq-manualplugins-youtube.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.5.0 demonstrating the click-to-load-plugins feature on youtube.com]]


==Privacy features==
<!--T:39-->
One of the benefits of using the '''WebKit''' engine, is that plugins can be disabled from automatically loading. This comes in handy to surf websites fast, without being bogged down by '''flash''' plugins. In the so-called ''Click-to-load'' mode, you will instead see a button that you can click on to activate the plugin.


[[Image:Rekonq-privatebrowsing.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.4.0 in private browsing mode]]
==Adblock support== <!--T:40-->


rekonq allows users to browse the web without retaining information about the visited pages in your history. Note that this feature does not necessarily make you anonymous on the internet - it only prevents fresh information from being recorded on your computer. You can also delete your history, cookies and other private data anytime straight from the configuration menu button.
<!--T:41-->
[[Image:Rekonq-adblock.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.5.0 blocking images on kde-apps.org]]


==Advanced tab features==
<!--T:42-->
'''rekonq''' comes with an automatic subscription to the Easylist filter, which is updated every week. Additionally, you can set up manual filters to block loading of elements from webpages that match your criteria. You can even download and import additional published filterlists or export your list for backup.


[[Image:Rekonq-tabpreview.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.4.0 showing a preview of a tab on hover]]
<!--T:63-->
If you want to import your Manual Filters e.g. from '''Konqueror''' just copy your list into this file: <tt>/home/'''''username'''''/.kde4/share/apps/rekonq/adblockrules_local</tt>


rekonq allows you to rearrange your tabs on the fly. Just drag a tab to the left or to the right and the other tabs will move out of your way. You can also hover over a tab to see a live preview of the webpage being displayed there.
==Web shortcuts support== <!--T:43-->


==Session restore feature==
<!--T:44-->
If rekonq crashes, it will automatically attempt to restore your session, complete with all the tabs the next time you start it. If for some reason, the browser continues to crash upon restoring the session, rekonq will automatically start with a fresh session the second time.
'''rekonq''' allows you to pick from an extensive list of web shortcuts - these are keywords that allow you to search the web quickly. For instance, entering {{Input|1=gg:KDE}}in the location bar will search ''Google'' for "KDE", while {{Input|1=wp:KDE}}will search ''Wikipedia'' for "KDE". There are dozens of these defined by default. You can edit these or even define custom shortcuts to search on your favorite websites. See [[Special:myLanguage/Konqueror/Web Shortcuts|Web Shortcuts]] for details.


==Full screen mode==
==Privacy and security features== <!--T:45-->
rekonq supports full-screening the webpage straight from the configuration menu button or through a keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+F, by default). In the full screen view, the main toolbar will auto-hide and the webpage will be displayed over your entire screen.


==Zoom slider==
<!--T:46-->
[[Image:Rekonq-privatebrowsing.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.5.0 in private browsing mode]]


[[Image:Rekonq-zoom.png|256px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.4.0 showing the zoom slider in the configuration menu]]
<!--T:47-->
'''rekonq''' allows users to browse the web without retaining information about the visited pages in your history. Note that this feature does not necessarily make you anonymous on the Internet - it only prevents fresh information from being recorded on your computer. You can also delete your history, cookies and other private data anytime straight from the configuration menu button.


rekonq has a slider to adjust the zoom right from the configuration menu with a handy button to restore the zoom back to default. Of course, you can still use keyboard (Ctrl + +/-) or mouse (Ctrl + mouse scroll up/down) shortcuts just the same.
<!--T:48-->
[[Image:Rekonq-sslinfo.png|100px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.5.0 URL bar showing the SSL info icon]]


=FAQs, Tips and Tricks=
<!--T:49-->
When viewing webpages over a secure connection, you can also view SSL information straight from the URLbar by clicking on the <menuchoice>yellow lock</menuchoice> icon.


===How do I set rekonq as my default browser?===
==Advanced tab handling== <!--T:50-->


Head to [[System Settings]] > Default Applications. Here, click on Web Browser to set your default browser. Select to open http and https URLs in the following browser and enter 'rekonq %u' as the browser. Click Apply.
<!--T:51-->
[[Image:Rekonq-tabpreview.png|512px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.5.0 showing a preview of a tab on hover]]


[[Image:Defaultwebbrowser.png|256px|thumb|left|Setting rekonq as the default web browser]]
<!--T:52-->
'''rekonq''' allows you to rearrange your tabs on the fly. Just drag a tab to the left or to the right and the other tabs will move out of your way. You can also hover over a tab to see a live preview of the webpage being displayed there.


===How do I load flash on demand?===
<!--T:53-->
 
A ''context menu'' (right-click menu) gives access to more tab-related functions such as the ability to detach, clone, reload the tab.
Click on the configuration menu button, and open the 'Configure rekonq' dialog. Click on WebKit and under Plugin settings, select to 'Manually Load Plugins'. Click OK.
 
[[Image:Rekonq-manualplugins.png|256px|thumb|left|Setting rekonq to not automatically load plugins]]
 
===How do I make rekonq behave like chrome/chromium?===
Using [[KWin]]'s window tabbing feature, we can make rekonq emulate the behavior of chromium by opening new windows instead of tabs within the same window. This will not however allow each window of rekonq to crash independently - all windows of rekonq crash as a single process. It merely emulates the look of chromium, giving individual controls for each webpage you load.
 
Click on the configuration menu button and open the 'Configure rekonq' dialog. Click on 'Tabs'. Unselect all options to disable all tab handling in rekonq. Now, rekonq will always open new windows instead of tabs.
 
Now, we'll set up KWin to automatically tab all rekonq windows together. Head to System Settings > Window Behavior. Select Window Behavior on the left and go to the Advanced tab. Here, under Window Tabbing, check 'Automatically group similar windows'. Click Apply.
 
Now, rekonq will open windows by default which will automatically get tabbed together.
 
{|cellpadding="4"
|[[Image:Rekonq-notabs.png|162px|thumb|rekonq 0.4.0 configuration]]||[[Image:Systemsettings-4.4.4-enablewindowtabbing.png|162px|thumb|System Settings configuration]]||[[Image:Rekonq-windowtabbing.png|162px|thumb|The result]]
|}


===How do I enable Adblock?===
==Session restore feature== <!--T:54-->


Click on the configuration menu button and open the 'Configure rekonq' dialog. Click on AdBlocK Filters'. You can now add custom filters using wildcard strings (e.g. http://www.site.com/ads/*) or regular expressions within forward slashes (e.g. //(ads|dclk)\./).
<!--T:55-->
If '''rekonq''' crashes, it will automatically attempt to restore your session, complete with all the tabs the next time you start it. If for some reason, the browser continues to crash upon restoring the session, rekonq will automatically start with a fresh session the second time.


If this is too cumbersome, just download an adblock filterlist (eg. [https://easylist-downloads.adblockplus.org/easylist.txt Easylist]) and use the Import button to load this file. Click OK. You'll need to restart rekonq for the changes to apply.
==Full screen mode== <!--T:56-->


[[Image:Rekonq-adblockconfiguration.png|256px|thumb|left|rekonq 0.4.0 AdBlocK configuration]]
<!--T:57-->
'''rekonq''' supports full-screening the webpage straight from the configuration menu button or through a keyboard shortcut (<keycap>Ctrl+Shift+F</keycap>, by default). In the full screen view, the main toolbar will auto-hide and the webpage will be displayed over your entire screen.


===I have more questions!===
==Zoom slider== <!--T:58-->


If you have rekonq installed, you can load up the Help document (just press F1) for more information. A user-generated manual is also available [[Rekonq/Manual|here]]. KDE Forums is always a good place to ask user-specific questions.
<!--T:59-->
[[Image:Rekonq-zoom.png|256px|thumb|center|rekonq 0.5.0 showing the zoom slider in the configuration menu]]


The [http://rekonq.sourceforge.net/ rekonq website] has release announcements for the latest stable and unstable releases along with more helpful links. You can also contact the developers on the [irc://freenode/#rekonq #rekonq IRC channel] or the [mailto:[email protected] mailing list] with more questions.
<!--T:60-->
'''rekonq''' has a slider to adjust the zoom right from the configuration menu with a handy button to restore the zoom back to default. Of course, you can still use keyboard (<keycap>Ctrl+ +/-</keycap>) or mouse (<keycap>Ctrl + mouse scroll up/down</keycap>) shortcuts just the same.


===How do I contribute?===
<!--T:61-->
Learn more about '''rekonq''' from our [[Special:myLanguage/Rekonq/FAQs|FAQs, Tips and Tricks]] page


See above for now. :)


<!--T:62-->
[[Category:Internet]]
[[Category:Internet]]
</translate>

Latest revision as of 11:54, 10 November 2023

Pending Deletion

This page has been proposed for deletion for the following reason:
Rekonq does not seem to be developed anymore
Please use the discussion section of this page to voice your opinion on this.
rekonq 0.5.0
The fast, simple WebKit-based KDE browser

Introduction

Based initially on qtwebkit (and currently on kdewebkit), rekonq is a lightweight browser designed to use the WebKit rendering engine in combination with various KDE technologies, allowing it to integrate seamlessly into the KDE desktop. The name is a throwback to the venerable khtml-based Konqueror which is currently the default KDE web browser.

rekonq has already replaced Konqueror as the default browser in Chakra and Kubuntu, with more distributions expressing similar intent for their future releases. The current stable release version is rekonq 0.7.0.

Interface

rekonq 0.5.0 main toolbar

By default, the rekonq window uses only one toolbar. This main toolbar consists of four navigation buttons (back, forward, home, reload/stop), the URL bar and two menu/buttons, one for bookmarks and one for the settings. This minimalist approach to the main toolbar marks the most significant user-interface departure from the traditional multi-toolbar paradigm followed by most other browsers like Konqueror.

Further, the main toolbar offers only limited customization - orientation (locked at the top of the window, by default), icon size (medium, by default) and icon labels (not shown, by default). This helps keep the rekonq UI simple and puts the focus on the webpage on display.

rekonq 0.5.0 URL bar

Version 0.5.0 introduces the tech preview of a vastly improved URL bar that offers access to search engines from the drop down completion list itself. The completion list is also populated by matching items from your history and bookmarks.

rekonq 0.5.0 new tab page

When started, rekonq displays the New Tab page, much of which is taken by a set of preview thumbnails of favorite webpages. These thumbnails offer a speedy way for the user to access their most frequently used webpages. There is also a pane at the top of this page allows the user to switch to previews of recently closed tabs and lists of bookmarked webpages, download and browsing histories.

rekonq 0.5.0 hidden UI elements

Further configuration options activate several other UI elements hidden by default. These include a toolbar for bookmarks, a panel (a panel, being a mini-window that can be resized, detached or re-docked in the main window) each for bookmarks and history and a web inspector panel (handy for web development).

Features

Under its minimalist appearance, rekonq packs a full set of powerful features. Some of them are described below:

KDE integration

rekonq is designed with the aim of being a KDE browser. And it shows;

Appearance

It obeys your themes, fonts, window decoration, menu highlighting, and many personalization options you set for your desktop.

Applications

rekonq 0.5.0 opens a pdf file in a Okular kpart

rekonq plays well with other applications in the KDE family. rekonq will always use your chosen default applications to handle file types. PDF files, for example will open in an embedded Okular kpart within rekonq itself. Media files will open in Dragon Player (or any other designated default application for that filetype).

rekonq 0.5.0 shares bookmarks etc. with Konqueror

Bookmarks, web shortcuts (more on these later), cookies and authentication information are shared with Konqueror. You will see the same set of bookmarks from either application and you can log onto a website in Konqueror and carry on seamlessly if you decide to switch to rekonq. Your passwords are stored securely in KWallet and can be used from either Konqueror or rekonq.

Your downloads can be optionally handled by KGet. Feeds from websites can be saved to Akregator (or Google Reader).

rekonq 0.5.0 + Akregator
rekonq 0.5.0 + kget

Services

KIO support

rekonq 0.4.0 browsing an ftp share

rekonq supports KIO services, including cookies, cache, proxies and network settings. KIO-slaves like file:/, ftp:/, man:/, help:/, info:/ etc will work in rekonq, too.

Dialogs

In addition to all this, rekonq uses KDE's own file dialog for opening/saving documents. This means, you have access to the Places sidebar from Dolphin while you open or save documents.

Thus, rekonq looks, feels and behaves like a part of your KDE desktop.

WebKit engine

rekonq uses the open source WebKit rendering engine which incidentally began life as a branch of the khtml/kjs libraries from the KDE project. WebKit is fast, powerful and used by many other popular browsers today including Google's Chrome/chromium, Apple's Safari and others.

Auto-load/click-to-load plugins

rekonq 0.5.0 demonstrating the click-to-load-plugins feature on youtube.com

One of the benefits of using the WebKit engine, is that plugins can be disabled from automatically loading. This comes in handy to surf websites fast, without being bogged down by flash plugins. In the so-called Click-to-load mode, you will instead see a button that you can click on to activate the plugin.

Adblock support

rekonq 0.5.0 blocking images on kde-apps.org

rekonq comes with an automatic subscription to the Easylist filter, which is updated every week. Additionally, you can set up manual filters to block loading of elements from webpages that match your criteria. You can even download and import additional published filterlists or export your list for backup.

If you want to import your Manual Filters e.g. from Konqueror just copy your list into this file: /home/username/.kde4/share/apps/rekonq/adblockrules_local

Web shortcuts support

rekonq allows you to pick from an extensive list of web shortcuts - these are keywords that allow you to search the web quickly. For instance, entering

gg:KDE

in the location bar will search Google for "KDE", while

wp:KDE

will search Wikipedia for "KDE". There are dozens of these defined by default. You can edit these or even define custom shortcuts to search on your favorite websites. See Web Shortcuts for details.

Privacy and security features

rekonq 0.5.0 in private browsing mode

rekonq allows users to browse the web without retaining information about the visited pages in your history. Note that this feature does not necessarily make you anonymous on the Internet - it only prevents fresh information from being recorded on your computer. You can also delete your history, cookies and other private data anytime straight from the configuration menu button.

rekonq 0.5.0 URL bar showing the SSL info icon

When viewing webpages over a secure connection, you can also view SSL information straight from the URLbar by clicking on the yellow lock icon.

Advanced tab handling

rekonq 0.5.0 showing a preview of a tab on hover

rekonq allows you to rearrange your tabs on the fly. Just drag a tab to the left or to the right and the other tabs will move out of your way. You can also hover over a tab to see a live preview of the webpage being displayed there.

A context menu (right-click menu) gives access to more tab-related functions such as the ability to detach, clone, reload the tab.

Session restore feature

If rekonq crashes, it will automatically attempt to restore your session, complete with all the tabs the next time you start it. If for some reason, the browser continues to crash upon restoring the session, rekonq will automatically start with a fresh session the second time.

Full screen mode

rekonq supports full-screening the webpage straight from the configuration menu button or through a keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+F, by default). In the full screen view, the main toolbar will auto-hide and the webpage will be displayed over your entire screen.

Zoom slider

rekonq 0.5.0 showing the zoom slider in the configuration menu

rekonq has a slider to adjust the zoom right from the configuration menu with a handy button to restore the zoom back to default. Of course, you can still use keyboard (Ctrl+ +/-) or mouse (Ctrl + mouse scroll up/down) shortcuts just the same.

Learn more about rekonq from our FAQs, Tips and Tricks page