Top 10 Chrome Extensions Every Developer Should Know

As a developer, having the right tools at your fingertips can significantly speed up your workflow, improve code quality, and simplify debugging. Chrome extensions tailored to developers help you work smarter within your browser, giving access to powerful features directly integrated into your development environment. In this tutorial, we explore the top 10 Chrome extensions that every developer should consider adding to their toolkit.

Prerequisites

A computer with Google Chrome installed
Basic familiarity with browser extensions and web development
An active internet connection for installing and using extensions

Top 10 Chrome Extensions for Developers

React Developer Tools
Essential for developers working with React, this extension lets you inspect the React component hierarchies in the Chrome Developer Tools. It shows props, state, and hooks, making debugging React apps much easier.
Vue.js devtools
For Vue.js practitioners, this extension enables inspection and debugging of Vue components, events, and Vuex state, directly from Chrome’s DevTools panel.
jQuery Injector
Quickly inject jQuery into the current page to test jQuery commands or debug DOM manipulations without altering the source code.
Web Developer
Adds a toolbar with various web developer tools: disabling styles, validating markup, displaying element information, and more, facilitating in-depth front-end diagnostics.
Lighthouse
Google’s open-source tool for auditing web page performance, accessibility, progressive web apps, SEO, and more. Run audits directly in Chrome to improve your website’s quality.
Postman
Although Postman is a standalone app, the Chrome extension provides a lightweight REST client for testing APIs without leaving your browser, useful for backend and frontend developers.
WhatFont
Quickly identify fonts used on any website with a simple hover interface, helping frontend developers and designers match typography styles.
ColorZilla
A color picker, eyedropper, and gradient generator for web developers and designers to extract and match colors easily from any webpage.
JSON Viewer
Formats and highlights JSON responses inside the browser, helping you quickly analyze API responses or configuration files in JSON format.
axe – Web Accessibility Testing
A powerful accessibility testing tool that integrates with devtools to scan your pages for accessibility issues and suggest fixes, ensuring your web apps are usable by everyone.

Step-By-Step: How to Install a Chrome Extension

Open Google Chrome and go to the Chrome Web Store.
Use the search bar to find the extension you want (e.g., “React Developer Tools”).
Click Add to Chrome on the extension’s page.
Confirm by clicking Add extension in the popup dialog.
The extension icon typically appears next to the address bar; click it to access its features.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Extension not showing up: Ensure Chrome is updated; try restarting the browser.
Extension conflicts: Disable other extensions one by one to identify conflicts.
Extension permissions: Some extensions require additional permissions; review and approve these carefully.
Functionality issues: Check the extension’s official web page for updates or known bugs.

Summary Checklist

Install extensions via the Chrome Web Store
Regularly update extensions to access new features and fixes
Use developer-specific extensions to enhance debugging and testing
Manage extension permissions carefully for security
Keep your browser updated for optimal compatibility

Integrating these Chrome extensions into your daily development routine will increase productivity, reduce debugging time, and help deliver higher quality code. For more tutorials and tools to improve your coding workflow, check out our best browser extensions for productivity guide.