Tab History
Tab History keeps track of websites visited within the same tab, making it easy to navigate back to previously viewed pages. This premium feature provides a comprehensive browsing history for each individual tab.
What is Tab History?
Tab History records and displays all URLs visited within a single tab during its lifetime. Unlike browser history, this feature is tab-specific and shows the navigation path for each individual tab, making it easier to track your browsing journey.
Basic Usage
Enabling Tab History
Tab History is disabled by default and requires a premium subscription:
- Open VertiTab settings
- Navigate to Tab Settings > Tab History
- Enable "Tab History"
- Configure display and behavior options
Note: This is a premium feature. Free users will see an upgrade prompt when attempting to use any Tab History functionality.
Viewing Tab History
When enabled, tab history appears below each tab in the sidebar:
- Expanded Mode: Shows full list of visited URLs with titles
- Collapsed Mode: Shows small icons representing visited sites
- Icon Mode: Displays favicon icons when collapsed
Display Options
Expand/Collapse Controls
- Expand Button: Click the expand/collapse icon next to tabs
- Auto-expand: Configure default expansion state in settings
- Active Tab Only: Show history only for the currently active tab
History Items
Each history item displays:
- Favicon: Website icon
- Title: Page title
- URL: Website address (optional)
- Last Accessed: Timestamp of last visit
History Navigation
Accessing History Pages
- Left Click: Navigate to the URL in the current tab
- Middle Click or Ctrl+Click: Open URL in new tab
- Right Click: Access context menu with additional options
Context Menu Options
Right-click on any history item for these options:
- Open in New Tab: Open URL in a new tab
- Open in New Window: Open URL in a new window
- Open in Incognito Window: Open URL in private browsing mode
- Copy URL: Copy the web address to clipboard
- Copy Title: Copy the page title to clipboard
- Copy as Markdown: Copy as formatted markdown link
- Delete History Item: Remove specific history entry
- Delete All Tab Histories: Clear entire history for this tab
- Expand/Collapse Tab Histories: Toggle display mode
Settings Configuration
History Settings
Access these options in Tab Settings > Tab History:
Basic Settings:
- Tab History: Enable/disable the feature
- Only Show on Active Tabs: Limit display to active tab only
- Default Expand: Set default expansion state
- Show Expand Button: Display expand/collapse controls
Display Options:
- Show URLs: Display website addresses below titles
- Show Icons When Collapsed: Display favicons in collapsed mode
Advanced Settings:
- Sort By: Choose sorting method (Last Accessed or Created Time)
- Keep Count: Set maximum number of history items to display (default: 5)
History Management
Automatic Cleanup:
- History is automatically limited to the configured keep count
- Oldest entries are removed when limit is exceeded
- History is cleared when tab is closed
Manual Management:
- Delete individual history items via right-click menu
- Clear all history for a tab using the delete option
- History persists across browser sessions for open tabs
Use Cases
- Research Sessions: Track your research path and easily return to previous sources
- Shopping Comparisons: Navigate between product pages and compare options
- Documentation Review: Follow documentation links and return to previous sections
- News Reading: Track articles read and return to earlier stories
- Development Work: Navigate between related code repositories or documentation
Premium Features
Free Version:
- Tab History is not available
Premium Version:
- Full Tab History functionality
- Unlimited history items per tab
- All display and sorting options
- History persistence across sessions
- Advanced management controls
Limitations
- Premium Only: Requires VertiTab premium subscription
- Tab-Specific: History is tied to individual tabs
- Memory Usage: Large histories may impact performance
- Session Dependent: History is cleared when extension is disabled/updated
Troubleshooting
Tab History not showing?
- Ensure you have a premium subscription
- Check that Tab History is enabled in settings
- Verify the tab has visited multiple URLs
- Check if "Only Show on Active Tabs" is limiting display
History items missing?
- Check the "Keep Count" setting - older items may be automatically removed
- Verify history wasn't manually deleted
- Some URLs may not be recorded (internal pages, error pages)
Performance issues?
- Reduce the "Keep Count" to limit history items
- Clear old histories for tabs with extensive browsing
- Consider disabling URL display to improve performance
Tab History provides detailed insight into your browsing patterns and makes it easy to navigate complex research sessions or return to previously viewed content.