chrome.bookmarks

This permission triggers a warning.

Description

Use the chrome.bookmarks API to create, organize, and otherwise manipulate bookmarks. Also see Override Pages, which you can use to create a custom Bookmark Manager page.

Permissions

bookmarks

Clicking the star adds a bookmark

Manifest

You must declare the "bookmarks" permission in the extension manifest to use the bookmarks API. For example:

{
  "name": "My extension",
  ...
  "permissions": [
    "bookmarks"
  ],
  ...
}

Objects and properties

Bookmarks are organized in a tree, where each node in the tree is either a bookmark or a folder (sometimes called a group). Each node in the tree is represented by a bookmarks.BookmarkTreeNode object.

BookmarkTreeNode properties are used throughout the chrome.bookmarks API. For example, when you call bookmarks.create, you pass in the new node's parent (parentId), and, optionally, the node's index, title, and url properties. See bookmarks.BookmarkTreeNode for information about the properties a node can have.

Examples

The following code creates a folder with the title "Extension bookmarks". The first argument to create() specifies properties for the new folder. The second argument defines a function to be executed after the folder is created.

chrome.bookmarks.create(
  {'parentId': bookmarkBar.id, 'title': 'Extension bookmarks'},
  function(newFolder) {
    console.log("added folder: " + newFolder.title);
  },
);

The next snippet creates a bookmark pointing to the developer documentation for extensions. Since nothing bad will happen if creating the bookmark fails, this code doesn't bother to define a callback function.

chrome.bookmarks.create({
  'parentId': extensionsFolderId,
  'title': 'Extensions doc',
  'url': 'https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions',
});

To try this API, install the Bookmarks API example from the chrome-extension-samples repository.

Types

BookmarkTreeNode

A node (either a bookmark or a folder) in the bookmark tree. Child nodes are ordered within their parent folder.

Properties

  • children

    BookmarkTreeNode[] optional

    An ordered list of children of this node.

  • dateAdded

    number optional

    When this node was created, in milliseconds since the epoch (new Date(dateAdded)).

  • dateGroupModified

    number optional

    When the contents of this folder last changed, in milliseconds since the epoch.

  • dateLastUsed

    number optional

    Chrome 114+

    When this node was last opened, in milliseconds since the epoch. Not set for folders.

  • folderType

    FolderType optional

    Chrome 134+

    If present, this is a folder that is added by the browser and that cannot be modified by the user or the extension. Child nodes may be modified, if this node does not have the unmodifiable property set. Omitted if the node can be modified by the user and the extension (default).

    There may be zero, one or multiple nodes of each folder type. A folder may be added or removed by the browser, but not via the extensions API.

  • id

    string

    The unique identifier for the node. IDs are unique within the current profile, and they remain valid even after the browser is restarted.

  • index

    number optional

    The 0-based position of this node within its parent folder.

  • parentId

    string optional

    The id of the parent folder. Omitted for the root node.

  • syncing

    boolean

    Chrome 134+

    Whether this node is synced with the user's remote account storage by the browser. This can be used to distinguish between account and local-only versions of the same FolderType. The value of this property may change for an existing node, for example as a result of user action.

    Note: this reflects whether the node is saved to the browser's built-in account provider. It is possible that a node could be synced via a third-party, even if this value is false.

    For managed nodes (nodes where unmodifiable is set to true), this property will always be false.

  • title

    string

    The text displayed for the node.

  • unmodifiable

    "managed"
     optional

    Indicates the reason why this node is unmodifiable. The managed value indicates that this node was configured by the system administrator or by the custodian of a supervised user. Omitted if the node can be modified by the user and the extension (default).

  • url

    string optional

    The URL navigated to when a user clicks the bookmark. Omitted for folders.

BookmarkTreeNodeUnmodifiable

Chrome 44+

Indicates the reason why this node is unmodifiable. The managed value indicates that this node was configured by the system administrator. Omitted if the node can be modified by the user and the extension (default).

Value

"managed"

CreateDetails

Object passed to the create() function.

Properties

  • index

    number optional

  • parentId

    string optional

    Defaults to the Other Bookmarks folder.

  • title

    string optional

  • url

    string optional

FolderType

Chrome 134+

Indicates the type of folder.

Enum

"bookmarks-bar"
The folder whose contents is displayed at the top of the browser window.

"other"
Bookmarks which are displayed in the full list of bookmarks on all platforms.

"mobile"
Bookmarks generally available on the user's mobile devices, but modifiable by extension or in the bookmarks manager.

"managed"
A top-level folder that may be present if the system administrator or the custodian of a supervised user has configured bookmarks.

Properties

MAX_SUSTAINED_WRITE_OPERATIONS_PER_MINUTE

Deprecated

Bookmark write operations are no longer limited by Chrome.

Value

1000000

MAX_WRITE_OPERATIONS_PER_HOUR

Deprecated

Bookmark write operations are no longer limited by Chrome.

Value

1000000

Methods

create()

Promise 
chrome.bookmarks.create(
  bookmark: CreateDetails,
  callback?: function,
): Promise<BookmarkTreeNode>

Creates a bookmark or folder under the specified parentId. If url is NULL or missing, it will be a folder.

Parameters

Returns

  • Chrome 90+

    Promises are only supported for Manifest V3 and later, other platforms need to use callbacks.

get()

Promise 
chrome.bookmarks.get(
  idOrIdList: string | [string, ...string[]],
  callback?: function,
): Promise<BookmarkTreeNode[]>

Retrieves the specified BookmarkTreeNode(s).

Parameters

  • idOrIdList

    string | [string, ...string[]]

    A single string-valued id, or an array of string-valued ids

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (results: BookmarkTreeNode[]) => void

Returns

  • Promise<BookmarkTreeNode[]>

    Chrome 90+

    Promises are only supported for Manifest V3 and later, other platforms need to use callbacks.

getChildren()

Promise 
chrome.bookmarks.getChildren(
  id: string,
  callback?: function,
): Promise<BookmarkTreeNode[]>

Retrieves the children of the specified BookmarkTreeNode id.

Parameters

Returns

  • Promise<BookmarkTreeNode[]>

    Chrome 90+

    Promises are only supported for Manifest V3 and later, other platforms need to use callbacks.

getRecent()

Promise 
chrome.bookmarks.getRecent(
  numberOfItems: number,
  callback?: function,
): Promise<BookmarkTreeNode[]>

Retrieves the recently added bookmarks.

Parameters

  • numberOfItems

    number

    The maximum number of items to return.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (results: BookmarkTreeNode[]) => void

Returns

  • Promise<BookmarkTreeNode[]>

    Chrome 90+

    Promises are only supported for Manifest V3 and later, other platforms need to use callbacks.

getSubTree()

Promise 
chrome.bookmarks.getSubTree(
  id: string,
  callback?: function,
): Promise<BookmarkTreeNode[]>

Retrieves part of the Bookmarks hierarchy, starting at the specified node.

Parameters

  • id

    string

    The ID of the root of the subtree to retrieve.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (results: BookmarkTreeNode[]) => void

Returns

  • Promise<BookmarkTreeNode[]>

    Chrome 90+

    Promises are only supported for Manifest V3 and later, other platforms need to use callbacks.

getTree()

Promise 
chrome.bookmarks.getTree(
  callback?: function,
): Promise<BookmarkTreeNode[]>

Retrieves the entire Bookmarks hierarchy.

Parameters

Returns

  • Promise<BookmarkTreeNode[]>

    Chrome 90+

    Promises are only supported for Manifest V3 and later, other platforms need to use callbacks.

move()

Promise 
chrome.bookmarks.move(
  id: string,
  destination: object,
  callback?: function,
): Promise<BookmarkTreeNode>

Moves the specified BookmarkTreeNode to the provided location.

Parameters

  • id

    string

  • destination

    object

    • index

      number optional

    • parentId

      string optional

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (result: BookmarkTreeNode) => void

Returns

  • Chrome 90+

    Promises are only supported for Manifest V3 and later, other platforms need to use callbacks.

remove()

Promise 
chrome.bookmarks.remove(
  id: string,
  callback?: function,
): Promise<void>

Removes a bookmark or an empty bookmark folder.

Parameters

  • id

    string

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    () => void

Returns

  • Promise<void>

    Chrome 90+

    Promises are only supported for Manifest V3 and later, other platforms need to use callbacks.

removeTree()

Promise 
chrome.bookmarks.removeTree(
  id: string,
  callback?: function,
): Promise<void>

Recursively removes a bookmark folder.

Parameters

  • id

    string

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    () => void

Returns

  • Promise<void>

    Chrome 90+

    Promises are only supported for Manifest V3 and later, other platforms need to use callbacks.

Promise 
chrome.bookmarks.search(
  query: string | object,
  callback?: function,
): Promise<BookmarkTreeNode[]>

Searches for BookmarkTreeNodes matching the given query. Queries specified with an object produce BookmarkTreeNodes matching all specified properties.

Parameters

  • query

    string | object

    Either a string of words and quoted phrases that are matched against bookmark URLs and titles, or an object. If an object, the properties query, url, and title may be specified and bookmarks matching all specified properties will be produced.

    • query

      string optional

      A string of words and quoted phrases that are matched against bookmark URLs and titles.

    • title

      string optional

      The title of the bookmark; matches verbatim.

    • url

      string optional

      The URL of the bookmark; matches verbatim. Note that folders have no URL.

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (results: BookmarkTreeNode[]) => void

Returns

  • Promise<BookmarkTreeNode[]>

    Chrome 90+

    Promises are only supported for Manifest V3 and later, other platforms need to use callbacks.

update()

Promise 
chrome.bookmarks.update(
  id: string,
  changes: object,
  callback?: function,
): Promise<BookmarkTreeNode>

Updates the properties of a bookmark or folder. Specify only the properties that you want to change; unspecified properties will be left unchanged. Note: Currently, only 'title' and 'url' are supported.

Parameters

  • id

    string

  • changes

    object

    • title

      string optional

    • url

      string optional

  • callback

    function optional

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (result: BookmarkTreeNode) => void

Returns

  • Chrome 90+

    Promises are only supported for Manifest V3 and later, other platforms need to use callbacks.

Events

onChanged

chrome.bookmarks.onChanged.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Fired when a bookmark or folder changes. Note: Currently, only title and url changes trigger this.

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (id: string, changeInfo: object) => void

    • id

      string

    • changeInfo

      object

      • title

        string

      • url

        string optional

onChildrenReordered

chrome.bookmarks.onChildrenReordered.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Fired when the children of a folder have changed their order due to the order being sorted in the UI. This is not called as a result of a move().

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (id: string, reorderInfo: object) => void

    • id

      string

    • reorderInfo

      object

      • childIds

        string[]

onCreated

chrome.bookmarks.onCreated.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Fired when a bookmark or folder is created.

Parameters

onImportBegan

chrome.bookmarks.onImportBegan.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Fired when a bookmark import session is begun. Expensive observers should ignore onCreated updates until onImportEnded is fired. Observers should still handle other notifications immediately.

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    () => void

onImportEnded

chrome.bookmarks.onImportEnded.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Fired when a bookmark import session is ended.

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    () => void

onMoved

chrome.bookmarks.onMoved.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Fired when a bookmark or folder is moved to a different parent folder.

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (id: string, moveInfo: object) => void

    • id

      string

    • moveInfo

      object

      • index

        number

      • oldIndex

        number

      • oldParentId

        string

      • parentId

        string

onRemoved

chrome.bookmarks.onRemoved.addListener(
  callback: function,
)

Fired when a bookmark or folder is removed. When a folder is removed recursively, a single notification is fired for the folder, and none for its contents.

Parameters

  • callback

    function

    The callback parameter looks like: 

    (id: string, removeInfo: object) => void

    • id

      string

    • removeInfo

      object