When I was learning how to use audio editing software, my teachers always stressed the use of keyboard shortcuts. After learning how much faster and simpler keyboard shortcuts made editing on specific software, I started to take their advice and use it towards my everyday computing. With that being said, here are my top 5 favorite Mozilla Firefox Keyboard Shorcuts:

#5

CTRL+U = View Source

I like to view the source of a webpage when something the designer did caught my eye.  Its really cool to be able to actually see what went into the building of a site.  This is also useful when I mouse over an image with an obscure link.

#4

CTRL+Mouse Scroll up/down = Zoom in/out

When visiting a webpage with tons of pictures or just really big font, being able to zoom without going through menus is a huge help.

#3

CTRL+Enter/Return (when typing a url) = complete .com address

I used to think that you always had to enter http:// in the front of a url and .com at the end of it.  With this little shortcut, now I don’t have to type either.  Simply type the domain you wish to connect to and then hit CTRL+Enter and your prefix and suffix are filled in for you.  (EX: type “abandontheship” into your address bar and then hit CTRL+Enter.  You will go right to http:www.abandontheship.com)

#2

CTRL+C/CTRL+V = Cut and Paste

This works for almost any software program out there today and is still an essential tool in my shortcut arsenal.

#1

CTRL-W – Close Tab/Window

I have up to ten tabs open at one time and trying to close them one at a time as I glance the front page does not work well with how Firefox currently handles tab headings.  Firefox auto resizes my tab headings depending on how many are open at one time.  There is no way to click in just one spot and close tab after tab, you have to move the mouse every time.  With this shortcut, I can close the window an keep my mouse in its same position.  This comes especially in handy when I’m copy and pasting text from one tab to another and the text fields are in the same position in each page, I don’t even have to move my mouse in order to paste.

If you want to sharpen up on your Keyboard Shortcuts, just head on over to http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Keyboard+shortcuts and start using them now!

(Note: most of these shortcuts will work in Internet Explorer 8 and other web-browsers now)