How to Save Web Page on w3m Browser
Web browsing is an everyday activity that has become a part of our lives. One of the essential tasks that come with browsing the web is saving web pages to access for later. While most browsers have an inbuilt save feature, some like the w3m browser require a few more steps. In this article, we will discuss how to save web pages on the w3m browser.
Understanding w3m Browser
Before delving into the details of saving a web page on the w3m browser, it is essential to understand what it is and its key features.
W3m browser is a text-based web browser designed to work in a terminal. It is free and open-source software that allows users to browse the web without graphics or tabs. Unlike typical web browsers, w3m is simple, lightweight, and consumes less memory.
The browser was developed by Akinori Ito in 1995 and is written in C programming language. It is available for Unix-like operating systems and can be used on a wide range of devices, including servers, personal computers, and mobile phones.
One of the key features of w3m is its support for color images using external image viewers. This means that users can view images on web pages without having to use a graphical web browser. Additionally, w3m supports inline image rendering, which allows images to be displayed within the text of a web page.
Another important feature of w3m is its support for tables and frames. Tables are used to display data in rows and columns, while frames are used to divide a web page into different sections. W3m also supports mouse operation, which allows users to navigate web pages using a mouse instead of keyboard shortcuts.
W3m can be used in a terminal emulator, which is a program that allows users to access a terminal window on their computer. This makes it ideal for users who prefer to work in a command-line environment or who have limited system resources.
Key Features of w3m Browser
Supports color images using external image viewers
Supports inline image rendering
Supports tables and frames
Supports mouse operation
Can be used in a terminal emulator
In conclusion, w3m browser is a powerful and versatile tool for browsing the web in a text-based environment. Its support for images, tables, frames, and mouse operation make it an excellent choice for users who prefer a lightweight and customizable web browsing experience.
Installing w3m Browser
Before saving a web page on the w3m browser, you must install the browser first. The following are the steps to install w3m browser on various operating systems.
Installing on Linux
Linux is an open-source operating system that powers millions of servers, personal computers, and mobile devices worldwide. To install w3m on Linux, you can use the following command in your terminal:
$sudo apt-get install w3m
The above command will download and install the w3m browser on your Linux system. Once installed, you can start using the browser by typing the following command in your terminal:
$w3m
This will launch the w3m browser, and you can start browsing the internet using the command line interface.
Installing on macOS
macOS is a popular operating system developed by Apple Inc. for its line of Macintosh computers. macOS users can install the w3m browser via Homebrew using the following command:
$brew install w3m
Homebrew is a package manager for macOS that allows you to install and manage command-line applications easily. Once installed, you can start using the w3m browser by typing the following command in your terminal:
$w3m
This will launch the w3m browser, and you can start browsing the internet using the command line interface.
Installing on Windows
Windows is a popular operating system developed by Microsoft Corporation. Windows users can install w3m browser using Cygwin. Cygwin is an open-source project that allows running Linux-like environments on Windows.
To install Cygwin, follow these steps:
Download the Cygwin installer from the official website.
Run the installer and select the packages you want to install.
Once the installation is complete, launch the Cygwin terminal.
Type the following command to install w3m:
$apt-cyg install w3m
This will download and install the w3m browser on your Windows system. Once installed, you can start using the browser by typing the following command in your Cygwin terminal:
$w3m
This will launch the w3m browser, and you can start browsing the internet using the command line interface.
Overall, w3m is a lightweight and fast text-based browser that is easy to install and use on various operating systems.
Navigating and Using w3m Browser
After installing w3m browser, it is essential to know how to use it before saving a web page. The following are some basic commands for using w3m:
Basic Navigation Commands
Arrow keys: Used for scrolling up, down, left, and right in a web page
Enter key: Used to follow a link or button
Backspace key: Used to go back to the previous page
Ctrl+L: Used to clear the screen
Ctrl+R: Used to reload a web page
Searching for Text within a Web Page
To search for specific text within a web page in w3m, you can use the following command:
/
The command creates a prompt where you can enter the text to search for. Pressing Enter will highlight the text on the page. Pressing N will take you to the next match, and pressing Shift+N will take you to the previous match.
Opening Links and New Tabs
To open a link or button on a web page, press the Enter key while highlighting it. To open a link in a new tab, press the T key while highlighting the link.
Saving a Web Page in w3m Browser
Now that you are familiar with navigating and using the w3m browser, we can now discuss how to save a web page on the browser.
Saving a Web Page as HTML
The following are the steps to save a web page as HTML in w3m:
Navigate to the web page you want to save
Press the S key
Enter a name for the file followed by the extension .html (for example, mywebpage.html)
Press Enter
The web page will be saved as an HTML file in your current working directory.
Saving a Web Page as Text
The following are the steps to save a web page as text in w3m:
Navigate to the web page you want to save
Press the S key
Enter a name for the file followed by the extension .txt (for example, mywebpage.txt)
Press Enter
The web page will be saved as a text file in your current working directory.
Saving a Web Page as a Bookmark
To save a web page as a bookmark in w3m, press the A key while on the page you want to bookmark. You will be prompted to enter a name for the bookmark. Press Enter, and the bookmark will be saved.
Conclusion
With the steps outlined in this article, saving web pages on the w3m browser should be effortless. W3m browser is an excellent choice for individuals who prefer a lightweight browser with simple navigation commands. Explore the browser to discover more features and ways of optimizing your browsing experience.