Top 5 Chrome Tools For Web Developers

It can be argued that a website is only as good as the tools a developer uses to create it. In many ways, this point rings true. However, it also depends on the value a developer finds in any one specific tool.

Many have found the flexibility of Chrome to be quite effective whether it’s for casual browsing or developing a website. Because the system is so versatile, there are many great tools that help develop content or even site design. From a reseller hosting site to make money to creating a chicken recipe blog, there are many good additions for Chrome.

Here are five of the best tools web developers can install on Chrome today to improve site design. All it takes is a moment of time to enhance how one develops his or her own website.

  1. Responsive Web Design Tester

One of the most important aspects to developing a website today is making sure it’s responsive. This is because mobile devices account for most of the traffic on the Internet since 2015. However, a responsive design also needs to look good on those devices. Responsive Web Design Tester is a great tool for this purpose.

One of the key elements to this tool is the number of presets that are included. With a quick selection, developers are able to view what a website looks like on specific mobile units. This means details can be addressed should they look less than ideal for Android or iPhone tablets when compared to phones.

Another way this tester is of use is by viewing how the competition looks on those devices as well. This offers a bit of enlightenment as developers are able to see how other similar sites stack up against their own in the digital world.

  1. ColorZilla

ColorZilla has been one of the most popular extensions for many different browsers. The tool lets users take a sample of any color on the Internet and saves it for later use. With a simple eyedropper tool, developers can grab that perfect hue or shade complete with it’s hexadecimal and RGB number field.

One of the best features of ColorZilla is the integrated gradient tool for CSS. Perhaps a developer wants to create a nice gradient background for the site that shifts from a plum purple to a light maroon color. This tool helps find those perfect shades and delivers the CSS coding to use in the website itself.

All it takes is a simple copy and paste to create the perfect gradient background. This doesn’t say anything about how detailed that gradient can be, either. In fact, it can handle several color shifts with ease while automatically generating the code.

  1. Lightshot

Looking for an efficient method of taking a quick screenshot to use on the website? Lightshot puts that power directly into Chrome. Simply click the icon in the browser and crop the image within the browser window. This is an incredible time-saver especially for those who need quick shots from the web instead of importing them into tools like Photoshop.

Lightshot comes with a few ways to enhance the image even further such as placing arrows, lines or free-hand drawing. Text can be added in virtually any color while a highlight marker allows developers to call attention to points on the image.

This tool will then allow users to save the image to their own computers, share them on social media or even save to the cloud. The tool supports Twitter, Facebook, Blogger and Pinterest allowing users to engage others with a quick graphic.

  1. WhatFont

Find that perfect font on another website and want to emulate it? WhatFont allows the user to discover exactly what font, family, size and line height is used on virtually any website. This is used to discover exactly what the most popular typography is for the best websites on the Internet.

Another feature in this tool is the ability to determine the hexadecimal color of the text. This is helpful as some colors simply perform better on certain backgrounds. For example, text that is too light is often less attractive while words that are too dark can also look unappealing in comparison to the site.

Typography plays more of a role in creating content than what many people realize. Studies show that certain colors promote specific emotions in people. This is true whether it’s a background or in text. Understanding more about how typography affects the masses will play into improving visitor engagement and retention. WhatFont helps give the ability to discover the most effective way to do this.

  1. Window Resizer

For those who like the idea of monitoring how the site looks without changing resolutions or turning on the extra tablet, Window Resizer is similar to the tool mentioned earlier. This one is a bit more simplistic than the previous extension, but it does deliver a great way to see the site on various size resolutions.

Why this one should be considered is because it implements the most common dimensions of screen sizes. Not all desktop computers and laptops are the same. With a couple clicks of the mouse, a developer can emulate a specific set of dimensions for any webpage. It also supports custom sizes for those looking for exact height and width.

One way to get the most out of this tool is by using it in conjunction with Google Analytics. By comparing the top visitor resolutions, developers can see the site how those people see it was well. This may lead to improvements that will make the majority of the users happy in the long run.

It’s All a Matter of Preference

In reality, any tool that a user finds effective is considered to be “top” to that particular individual. Even though these extensions may work for some, they may not be ideal for everyone. Whether it’s building a site centered around reseller hosting or a simple personal blog, it all boils down to personal preference. However, the above tools may still be worth installing. The point is you’ll never know unless you try.