A bookmark is a saved link to a webpage that lets you return to it quickly. Modern browsers store bookmarks in folders for easy organization.
When you bookmark a page, your browser saves the URL along with the page title. This creates a clickable link you can access from your browser's bookmarks menu or toolbar. Most browsers sync bookmarks across devices when you sign in.
Bookmarks differ from browser history, which automatically records visited pages. Unlike history entries, bookmarks remain until you delete them.
Most browsers support these common bookmark types:
| Type | Description | Example Use |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Bookmark | Single webpage saved with title and URL | Saving your bank's login page |
| Folder | Organizational container for multiple bookmarks | Grouping all work-related sites |
| Separators | Visual dividers in bookmarks menu | Creating categories in your bookmarks bar |
People create bookmarks primarily for efficiency. According to a 2022 study by NN/g, regular internet users save an average of 42 bookmarks, with power users maintaining over 200.
Common uses include:
Many people confuse bookmarks with browser tabs, which are temporary openings of web pages. Unlike tabs that close when you exit the browser, bookmarks persist until manually deleted.
Here's how to create a bookmark in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge:
Most browsers let you create folders to organize bookmarks. For instance, you might have separate folders for work resources, personal interests, and reference materials. Some browsers also allow color-coding or adding notes to bookmarks.
I keep my bookmarks organized by project. When working on a specific task, I'll create a folder for all related resources. This makes it easy to find everything when I return to the project later.
Remember that while bookmarks help organize your digital life, they shouldn't replace proper file storage. For important documents, consider using cloud storage services or emailing files to yourself create my email.