Last 23 January 2024, Mozilla released the 122nd version of its open source web browser Firefox, introducing a myriad of features and enhancements that aim to redefine the browsing experience for users across different platforms.
In an era where online privacy is paramount, Firefox 122 brings robust measures to the forefront. The introduction of passwordless sign-in offers users a secure and convenient alternative to traditional passwords. Fingerprinting resistance and the ability to copy URLs without site tracking underscore Mozilla’s commitment to shielding users from invasive tracking mechanisms.
The latest version of Firefox empowers users to prevent sites from tracking and sharing their data, reinforcing control over their online presence. The browser goes a step further by incorporating tracker content blocking and enforcing the user’s choice to disallow websites from selling their data, making privacy a top priority.
Search functionality receives a facelift with Firefox 122 now displaying images and descriptions for search suggestions when provided by the search engine. In addition, the translations feature sees a substantial improvement, ensuring stable results and addressing issues where translated content could vanish or interactive widgets break. Did you know that Firefox is also available in Tagalog?
The web browser extends its capabilities to macOS users by supporting passkeys stored in the iCloud Keychain. This integration enhances user convenience and aligns Firefox with the seamless experiences offered by Apple’s ecosystem. Linux users on Ubuntu, Debian, and Linux Mint receive a tailored experience with the introduction of a new .deb package.
For developers seeking information on web development, MDN Web Docs article suggestions from Firefox Suggest will now be available in the awesome bar (address bar), streamlining the search for relevant resources. Developers will also appreciate the enhanced keyboard navigation in the Inspector Rules view, where the Enter key now validates input without shifting focus. CSS properties see expansions with support for the offset-position property and various shapes on clip-path and offset-path CSS properties.
In terms of web content compatibility, Firefox 122 ensures that line-breaking rules align with the Unicode Standard, improving browser compatibility. It is worth noting that East Asian and South East Asian users benefit from enhanced language-aware word selection when double-clicking on text.
The latest version of the web browser includes several security fixes, addressing vulnerabilities that could lead to potential crashes or compromise user data. From out-of-bounds writes to unchecked return values, these fixes contribute to a more secure browsing environment.
Firefox now supports animating the SVG viewBox attribute using SMIL by animations, providing developers with additional tools for creating dynamic content. The LargestContentfulPaint API offers valuable timing information about the largest image or text paint before user interaction.
Firefox 122 introduces support for <hr> in <select>, allowing websites to incorporate separators inside a select element. The showPicker method on <select> elements can be triggered via JavaScript, enhancing web interactivity.
The Screen Wake Lock API finds support, preventing screen dimming during specific web activities. Firefox also recognizes the “webauthn” autocomplete token, suggesting passkeys in the form of autofill dialogs.
To ensure a uniform browsing experience, scripts can now store cacheAPI data in Private Browsing mode, aligning private and regular mode experiences. Firefox taints filters using currentColor as an input to protect user privacy. Uneven Level Protection Forward Error Correction (ULPFEC) is now enabled by default in Firefox, providing WebRTC services with a valuable tool to enhance video quality for users with less stable internet connections.
Firefox version 122 stands as a testament to Mozilla’s ongoing commitment to user privacy, security, and a seamless browsing experience, making it a compelling choice for users and developers alike.