If you're someone who prefers using a terminal interface to browse the internet, the w3m browser is an excellent choice. It's a text-based browser that is fast and lightweight, making it ideal for low-powered devices. One of the essential skills you'll need while using this browser is how to copy URLs. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the w3m browser and explore the different ways to copy URLs.

Understanding w3m Browser

w3m is a simple, yet effective, web browser that runs in the terminal. It is based on the text-based Lynx browser, which makes it an excellent option for those who need a fast and lightweight browser. The w3m browser supports images, tables, frames, color, and even has support for mouse events. It also has advanced features like multiple tab support and bookmarks, among others.

One of the notable features of the w3m browser is its text-based browsing capability. This means that users can browse the web without the need for a graphical interface. This feature is particularly useful for individuals who prefer a minimalist approach to browsing the web. With w3m, users can focus on the content of the web pages they visit without the distractions of ads or unnecessary graphics.

Features of w3m Browser

Some of the other notable features that w3m browser offers include:

• Support for tables, frames, and color

• Mouse support

• Multiple tab support

• Bookmarks

The support for tables, frames, and color is particularly useful for users who need to view web pages with complex layouts. With w3m, users can view these pages with ease and without any loss of functionality. The mouse support feature allows users to navigate web pages with greater ease and speed. The multiple tab support feature enables users to open multiple web pages simultaneously and switch between them with ease. Finally, the bookmarks feature enables users to save their favorite web pages for easy access in the future.

Why Use w3m Browser

There are various reasons why individuals may choose to use the w3m browser, some of these reasons include:

• Lightweight and fast

• No need for a graphical interface

• Can be used on low-powered devices

• No ads or distractions

• Privacy-focused

The lightweight and fast nature of the w3m browser makes it an ideal choice for users who need to browse the web quickly and efficiently. The lack of a graphical interface means that the browser can be used on low-powered devices, making it an excellent option for individuals who do not have access to high-end computers. The absence of ads or distractions means that users can focus on the content of the web pages they visit without any interruptions. Finally, the privacy-focused nature of the browser means that users can browse the web with greater confidence that their personal information is being protected.

Installing w3m Browser

Installing the w3m browser is relatively easy, and you can do so on different operating systems. Here's how to install the browser on different platforms:

Installing on Linux

To install w3m browser on Linux, you can use your distribution's package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can run:

sudo apt-get install w3m

Once you have installed w3m browser on your Linux machine, you can start using it to browse the web. W3m is a text-based browser, which means that it does not display images or other multimedia content. However, it is fast and lightweight, making it an ideal choice for users who prefer a minimalist browsing experience. One of the benefits of using w3m browser is that it can be used on remote servers via SSH, making it a useful tool for system administrators and developers.

Installing on macOS

On macOS, you can use the Homebrew package manager to install w3m.

brew install w3m

Once you have installed w3m browser on your Mac, you can start using it to browse the web. W3m is a versatile browser that can be used to view a wide range of websites, including those that are not optimized for mobile devices. One of the benefits of using w3m browser is that it is highly customizable, with a range of configuration options that allow you to tailor the browsing experience to your needs.

Installing on Windows

On Windows, you'll need to install a terminal emulator like Cygwin, Git for Windows, or Windows Terminal. Once you have a terminal emulator, you can run:

apt-cyg install w3m (for Cygwin)

choco install w3m (for Chocolatey)

Once you have installed w3m browser on your Windows machine, you can start using it to browse the web. W3m is a powerful browser that can be used to view a wide range of websites, including those that are not optimized for mobile devices. One of the benefits of using w3m browser on Windows is that it can be used to access websites that are blocked in your region, using a proxy server. Additionally, w3m is highly customizable, with a range of configuration options that allow you to tailor the browsing experience to your needs.

Navigating w3m Browser

Once you have the w3m browser installed, you can start using it to browse the internet. Here are some basic commands and shortcuts you should know:

Basic Commands and Shortcuts

• g: Go to URL

• b: Go back a page

• f: Go forward a page

• r: Refresh current page

• /: Search for text on the page

Opening and Closing Tabs

You can open a new tab in w3m browser by pressing the T key. To switch to a different tab, use the Tab key. If you want to close the current tab, press q.

Searching for Text within a Webpage

If you want to search for text on a page in w3m browser, press the / key followed by the search query. w3m will highlight all instances of the query on the page.

Copying URLs in w3m Browser

One of the core skills you'll need while using w3m browser is how to copy URLs. Here are some different ways to copy URLs in this browser:

Using the 'U' Command

To copy the URL of the current page in w3m browser, you can use the U key. When you press this key, w3m will display the URL in the status bar at the bottom of the terminal. You can then copy it using your terminal emulator's copy command.

Copying the Current Page URL

You can also copy the URL of the current page in w3m browser by pressing the Esc key followed by the y key. This will put the URL in w3m's internal buffer. To paste this URL, use your terminal emulator's paste command.

Copying a Link URL

If you want to copy the URL of a link in w3m browser, move the cursor to the link and press the Esc key followed by the y key. This will copy the URL to w3m's internal buffer, and you can then paste it using your terminal emulator's paste command.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the w3m browser is an excellent choice if you prefer using a terminal interface to browse the internet. It's lightweight, fast, and has various features, including multiple tab support and bookmarks. Knowing how to copy URLs is an essential skill in w3m, and we've explored different ways to do so in this article. With the knowledge gained in this article, you can now navigate the web more efficiently using w3m browser.