Linky Brings Multi Links Like Functionality To Google Chrome

Multi Links (formerly known as Snap Links) is one of the many small Firefox add-ons that add a lot of value to the web browser. It enables you to draw a rectangle on the screen to open all links within that rectangle on release.

In other words: a tool to open several links in one operation. Doing so can be very helpful to open link lists, all threads on a forum page, linked photos, forum threads, blog posts, or any other assortment of links at once.

Note: Linky was the first extension for Chrome to add the functionality; better extensions have been released in recent time. You may want to check out our Linkclump review; it offers better functionality and more options.

Linky for Chrome

Linky is the first add-on for the Google Chrome browser that brings part of that functionality to the browser. The Google Chrome extension does not work exactly like the Firefox add-on which becomes problematic in several ways.

Linky places an icon on the main Google Chrome toolbar from where its functionality can be accessed. A click on the icon opens all links that are highlighted on the page.

Using Linky is different from Multi Links as the latter allows you to draw a rectangle with the mouse to load all links in that rectangle when you release the mouse button. This means that you won't have to click on a button to invoke the functionality.

Multi Links users will know that highlighting does not prove to be as effective as drawing a rectangle around links simply because it will highlight all page elements on the page between the first and last selected link.

This would mean for Google Search results for example that all Cached and Similar pages would be opened as well which is usually not the intention of the user.

Linky works best when the links are placed next to each other without other elements between them. This is for example the case when you look at many sidebar menus. It is however not practical on all sites and the developer should consider switching to the implementation offered by Multi Links instead.

Linky can be downloaded at the official Google Chrome extensions repository over at the Google website.

Update: Linkclump is an alternative that mimics the behavior of the Firefox extension. You can use it to draw a rectangle around links on any page to open them at once when you let go of the mouse button.

The extension comes with a set of options to make this comfortable. You can define where links are opened, which key and mouse button you want to use to draw the links, or alternatively save those links to the bookmarks instead.

Linkclump uses an algorithm to determine the links that you want to open. This usually means that the main links get opened, while other links, with smaller text for example, do not get opened. That behavior can be changed in the preferences.

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