Build Your First AdBlocker - Chrome Extension

DevSage
8 Dec 201912:25

Summary

TLDRIn this tutorial, Deb Sage teaches viewers how to create a Google Chrome ad blocker extension. She explains how ad blockers work by blocking requests to advertisers, guides through setting up a manifest file, and demonstrates adding a background script to filter and block specific URLs. The video also covers creating icons and testing the extension in Chrome.

Takeaways

  • πŸ˜€ Deb Sage is teaching how to create a Google Chrome ad blocker extension.
  • πŸ” Ad blockers work by monitoring network traffic and blocking requests to advertisers.
  • πŸ“„ A manifest file is necessary for all Chrome extensions and contains important information about the plugin.
  • πŸ“š The manifest file includes properties like name, version, description, permissions, background scripts, and icons.
  • πŸ—οΈ Permissions are needed to access certain Chrome APIs, such as the web request and web request blocking APIs.
  • πŸ€– The background script is used to add event listeners for Chrome events, specifically to intercept and potentially block requests.
  • πŸ› οΈ The `chrome.webRequest.onBeforeRequest` event listener is used to check and block requests to potential advertisers.
  • 🌐 A filter object is used to specify which sites the callback function should apply to, allowing selective blocking of requests.
  • πŸ–ΌοΈ Icons for the extension are specified in the manifest file and should be created in different sizes (16x16, 48x48, 128x128).
  • πŸš€ To test the extension, enable developer mode in Chrome, load the unpacked extension, and test its functionality by visiting an advertiser's website.

Q & A

  • What is the main purpose of the video?

    -The main purpose of the video is to teach viewers how to create a Google Chrome ad blocker extension.

  • Why does the video creator dislike ads?

    -The video creator dislikes ads because they find them annoying and prefer not to watch them.

  • How does an ad blocker work in the context of the video?

    -An ad blocker works by monitoring network traffic and blocking requests to potential advertisers, thus preventing ads from being displayed on web pages.

  • What is the first file that needs to be created for a Chrome extension?

    -The first file that needs to be created is the 'manifest.json', which contains important information about the extension.

  • What properties should be added to the 'manifest.json' file?

    -The properties to be added include 'name', 'version', 'description', 'permissions', 'background', 'icons', and 'manifest_version'.

  • Which APIs are mentioned as needing permissions in the video?

    -The APIs mentioned as needing permissions are the 'web request' API and the 'web request blocking' API.

  • What is the purpose of the 'background.js' file in the extension?

    -The 'background.js' file contains scripts that run in the background, mainly for adding event listeners, which are used to monitor and potentially block requests to advertisers.

  • How can you block requests to specific advertisers in the extension?

    -You can block requests by using a filter object in the 'onBeforeRequest' event listener, specifying URLs or regular expressions that match the advertiser's domain.

  • What is the special permission called 'all URLs' for?

    -The 'all URLs' permission is used to grant the extension access to all URLs, allowing it to block requests across all websites.

  • How can you test the functionality of your ad blocker extension?

    -You can test the extension by loading it in Chrome's 'chrome://extensions' page, enabling developer mode, and then loading the unpacked extension from the ad blocker folder.

  • What is the final step mentioned in the video for using the ad blocker extension?

    -The final step is to visit a website like 'zito.com' to see if the requests are being blocked, which would prevent ads from being displayed.

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Related Tags
Ad BlockerChrome ExtensionCoding TutorialWeb DevelopmentBrowser ScriptsNetwork TrafficUser ExperienceContent FilteringDeveloper ToolsOnline Ads