Microsoft Edge is introducing Sidebar Extensions, allowing developers to build extensions that provide an enhanced side by side browsing experience. Developers can set a default sidebar, open extensions in the sidebar on specific sites, and use runtime.onInstalled() to welcome users with a dedicated sidebar. Plus, they can load scripts and call APIs to customize the experience.

deliver that. We invite you to explore the possibilities and unleash the full potential of your creativity.

Sidebar Extensions: Boost your users’ productivity with Microsoft Edge Add-ons

Microsoft Edge is always pushing the boundaries of innovation, and today we are excited to announce the release of extensions for the Sidebar in Microsoft Edge. This new feature will bring users an enhanced side-by-side browsing experience that will help them achieve more.

Supercharge your users’ productivity

We invite developers to take advantage of the Sidebar extensions and deliver improved experiences to their users. Here are three functionalities that will provide a tailored experience:

Default sidebar on every site

Developers can set a default sidebar to display consistent content or extensions across all opened tabs. Default values will persist across sessions, ensuring a seamless experience. Sample code is available here.

Sidebar enablement on specific sites

Developers can make their extension open in the sidebar on a specific site using sidepanel.setOptions(). This allows for a custom experience for users on their preferred websites.

Switching to a different sidebar

Developers can welcome their users with a dedicated sidebar using runtime.onInstalled(). When users navigate to a different tab, they can seamlessly transition to the main side panel.

Enabling your extension as a sidebar extension

Enabling your extension for the Sidebar is easy. Add the “sidePanel” permission in your manifest file and set the “default_path” to “sidepanel.html” using the provided code snippet. Your sidebar page offers the same level of flexibility as other extension pages. You can load scripts, call APIs from your sidebar page, and unleash the full potential of your creativity.

We understand that every user has unique requirements, which is why we have developed three additional functionalities to provide a tailored experience.

Learn more and get started

We have written comprehensive Sidebar API documentation and a collection of sample extensions is available on the Chrome repository to help get started. With Sidebar extensions, Microsoft Edge is upgrading the way users interact with extensions, boosting their productivity, and offering a tailored browsing experience.

Developer options for sidebar experiences

The sidebar in Microsoft Edge is a great canvas for developers to provide a productive experience for their users, and sidebar extensions provide a great way to deliver that. We invite developers to explore the possibilities and unleash the full potential of their creativity. Microsoft Edge is always striving to provide the best user experience and the Sidebar extensions are just the latest example of this. Developers can now provide their users with a tailored browsing experience that will help them achieve more.

Set a default sidebar to display consistent content or extensions across all opened tabs

Make your extension open in the sidebar on a specific site using sidepanel.setOptions()

Welcome your users with a dedicated sidebar using runtime.onInstalled()

Add the “sidePanel” permission in your manifest file and set the “default_path” to “sidepanel.html”

Load scripts, call APIs from your sidebar page and unleash the full potential of your creativity

From the Windows Blog

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