The Find Command

How can you efficiently locate a word or words on a web page?

Have you ever opened a web page only to groan as you scroll through text that seems to go on forever? How can you find the keywords you're after?   This is an occasion for the Find command.  In the Firefox browser, under the Edit pull down menu, is an option called Find in this page.  Internet Explorer calls it Find (on this page). Edit -> Find (Chrome); Mac users (Safari) Edit -> Find.

The keyboard shortcut Ctrl+f (hold down the control key and press f) works in ALL browsers. The Find command lets you enter a word.  Each time you push the Enter/Return button on your keyboard or click the Find button, that word will be found and highlighted in the text on the web page you are reading.  This makes it very easy to find the keyword you are looking for without having to scan long passages.

  1. Click the "Edit" menu item at the top of your browser.
  2. Then select the "Find on this page" (or a close wording, depending on the browser).
  3. When the dialog box appears, type the term you want to find and tap your Enter key.
  4. Click the "Find Next" button to locate the next occurrence of the term in the page.

Firefox Browser Find Command.

Screen shot of Firefox edit menu with Find in this Page Highlighed

Internet Explorer Find Command

Screen shot of Internet Explorer with Edit menu Find (on this page) highlighted

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Authored by Dennis O'Connor 2003-2005, updated May 2011