How many browser tabs do you usually have open?

Plus, get a few tips for browser productivity.
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Here's a potentially loaded question: How many browser tabs do you usually have open at one time? Do you have multiple windows, each with multiple tabs? Or are you a minimalist, and only have a couple of tabs open at once. Another option is to move a 20-tabbed browser window to a different monitor so that it is out of the way while working on a particular task. Does your approach differ between work, personal, and mobile browsers? Is your browser strategy related to your productivity habits?

4 tips for browser productivity

  1. Know your browser shortcuts to save clicks. Whether you use Firefox or Chrome, there are plenty of keyboard shortcuts to help make switching between tabs and performing certain functions a breeze. For example, Chrome makes it easy to open up a blank Google document. Use the shortcut "Ctrl + t" to open a new tab, then type "doc.new". The same can be done for spreadsheets, slides, and forms. 
  2. Organize your most frequent tasks with bookmark folders. When it's time to start a particular task, simply open all of the bookmarks in the folder (Ctrl + click) to check it off your list quickly.
  3. Get the right browser extensions for you. There are thousands of browser extensions out there all claiming to improve productivity. Before you install, make sure you're not just adding more distractions to your screen.
  4. Reduce screen time by using a timer. It doesn't matter if you use an old-fashioned egg timer or a fancy browser extension. To prevent eye strain, implement the 20/20/20 rule. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break from your screen and look at something 20 feet away. 

Take our poll to share how many browser tabs you like to have open at once. Be sure to tell us about your favorite browser tricks in the comments. 

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Lauren is the managing editor for Opensource.com. When she's not organizing the editorial calendar or digging into the data, she can be found going on adventures with her family and German shepherd rescue dog, Quailford. She is passionate about spreading awareness of how open source technology and principles can be applied to areas outside the tech industry such as education and government.

11 Comments

I used to have more than 30 tabs open at any time. However I identified it as a source of stress, so now, I force myself to have less than 10 at any given time.
For me having 30+ tabs was the result of FOMO so i decided that everything I "want" to read goes to Pocket.

Where is the 40+ voting option? :|

LOL; I have hundreds of tabs, where is an option for me? :D

In reply to by Robertor (not verified)

I believe the intent of the 20+ option was to indicate "n >= 20", where ``n`` is tabs. This covers both 40+ and 100+. Maybe in the next poll, we'll just use ``n`` and let people define ``n`` in the comments :-)

In reply to by bodqhrohro

I have exactly 1 tab open per browser instance. I HATE tabs, and wish there was at least a way to disable tabbed browsing! For me the tab bar just takes up valuable screen space for no good reason!

I keep a few tabs open, but not persistently. Tabs (and a web browser, for that matter) get opened on an as-needed basis, the information is processed, and then the tab is closed. This helps me stay on task.

Tab suspender have helped m very much with memory handling. I definitely recommend it

Too many tabs make locating tabs that are not visible cumbersome.

When I am done with a tab I close it. If I want to review or visit a site often I use bookmarks, not lots of tabs.

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