About Blank Internet Explorer 7
All popular web browsers have hidden commands that can be executed from within the address bar. The address bar is mostly used to enter website addresses for the browser to navigate to, but these hidden commands can be typed into the bar to make the browser perform a hidden task. About:Blank is one of these hidden items in Internet Explorer.
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The Address Bar
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When web browsers were in use during the early days of the Internet, their commands were very strict. Early versions of Netscape required that even the "http://" command be entered in the address bar in order to navigate to the desired websites. As time went on, requirements became less strict and even "www" is no longer required.
The "About:" Command
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The "About:" command is not a standard command, though most common browsers use it to display various information. The information shown is based on the command used after the : sign (the colon). The Mozilla Firefox browser brought this command into more common use with its "About:Config" command that allowed fine-tuning of the browser's preferences and underlying operational status.
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About:Blank
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"About:Blank" is used to display a blank page. Internet Explorer sets "About:Blank" to its homepage via security software or in certain versions of the Windows operating system. People also choose to use "About:Blank" as their homepage to speed up the browser so it does not load a connection-intensive page at launch.
Other Uses for "About:"
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There are a number of items you can use with the "About:" command to display other browser information. Some of these are "About:plugins" to display plugins currently installed, "About:cache" to show your browser's cache and "About:home" to display the current homepage. Each of these commands, along with many more, can be referenced online via various support sites.
Future Implementation
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As web browser coders and developers expand the ability of the software to adapt to the ever-changing Internet, more commands and hidden tricks will be developed. By delving into these fine-tuning settings, a user can tweak the software to perform exactly as she wishes and make the browsing experience as customized as possible.
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References
- Photo Credit address bar image by Wiktor Osiecki from Fotolia.com
