CODEWITHSUNDEEP
google-chrome-extension
Jack M
Jack M

Reputation: 6025

Tab-specific, non-intrusive notification in a chrome extension

I'm developing a chrome extension. When the user goes to the options page, they might modify a setting which will require them to refresh any tabs they have in which they're using the extension. So if the user changes one of these settings, then goes back to a tab which requires a refresh, I'd like to notify them of this in a non-intrusive way.

Is there a part of the API specifically for doing this sort of thing, or some other recommended way of doing it? I was thinking of maybe a little message that comes down from the top of the page, but can be closed, or a popup coming out of the browser action.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 92

Answers (1)

Xan
Xan

Reputation: 77571

You have many options.. To name a few:

  1. Do not require it. As much as you can, make the (presumably) content script adapt to new settings. It's by far a better UX - in some cases.

  2. Least intrusive would probably be to update a browser action / page action icon if you use one.

    Both APIs allow a per-tab change of icon/badge. You could also animate it a little to bring attention.

  3. An in-page notification injected into the DOM. Some sort of toast or <dialog>.

  4. Watch tab changes with chrome.tabs events, and do something on activation of affected tab, such as a chrome.notifications notification.

Upvotes: 2

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