Google Chrome can now tell whether you’ve incorrectly typed a URL in its address bar. The new feature is part of Google’s effort to build out its accessibility tools this year.
“This will help people with dyslexia, language learners or anyone who makes typos get to the content they’re looking for faster,” Eve Anderson, Google’s director of Products for All, said in a statement.
Anderson said when you type a website into the Chrome address bar, it will now detect URL typos and suggest websites based on the corrections. The feature is now available on Google Chrome or desktop with plans to arrive on Android and iOS soon.
Because it’s easy to hit the wrong key whether you’re on a regular sized keyboard of not, the typo detector is useful for just about everyone. In addition to accessibility, Chrome’s new ability to spot spelling errors can help keep users from accidentally visiting questionable sites. It’s common for cybercriminals to register a domain name that’s intentionally misspelled to try and scam visitors. This tactic is called typosquatting, or URL hijacking.
Don’t worry if the tool isn’t working for you just yet, new features can take some time to arrive on devices. I tested it out on my laptop and Android phone’s Chrome browser, but it didn’t flag www.faecbook.com or www.neetflix.com. The feature also appears to be available on Microsoft’s Edge browser. When I typed in www.goggle.com, the browser flagged the error and provided alternatives. Here’s what it looked like on my laptop:
In addition to the typo detector tool, Google also unveiled a number of other accessibility features.
Now Chrome users can easily find disabled-owned business in Maps and Search, use screen reader with Lens in Maps, and find wheelchair-accessible walking routes and locations. In addition, users have more customization options for Assistant Routines, greater camera accessibility with the Magnifier tool and a newly updated Guided Frame.