Chrome tests New Page Contextual Search in desktop address bar

We all know how useful and powerful an address bar and search bar combined omnibox in Chrome can be. Google is now making that more useful going forward by bringing contextual search suggestions about the page you are on specifically, and Search with Google Lens action also.

The aim of Google is to let you ask Google about a page as well as search with Google Lens. Both options may appear when you enable the following flags, as we noticed.

Omnibox contextual search actions at top
Enables overriding the placement of contextual search actions in the omnibox popup.

Omnibox contextual search on focus suggestions
Enables omnibox contextual search suggestions in zero-prefix suggest.

Omnibox contextual suggestions
Enables omnibox contextual suggestions. – Mac, Windows, Linux, ChromeOS

Just visit Chrome://flags page in Chrome Canary, search for “contextual,” and enable the above flags and restart Chrome.

After that, visit any webpage and when you click with it focused in the address bar, you will notice “Ask about this page” and “Search with Google Lens” options in the dropdown, in addition to “related to this page” suggestions populated below.

When you select the “Ask about this page” option, you will be allowed to type your question, and the results will appear in the Side Panel. We already mentioned about Lens Page Search feature integrated in address bar which is also accessible via @page keyword. The feature is still being worked on as flags landed today in Canary only.

Generally, what we know as contextual search in Chrome on desktop is highlighting a word or phrase and searching with Google, but this contextual search tested in address bar could be different. We have already seen what it could be; we need to wait for some more time.

Page contextual search suggestions and actions are not the only features Google is testing in Chrome. The company is also experimenting with Edge’s Split Screen-like Split Tabs, and Chrome now allows you to turn off toast messages that appear when you copy images or links, using the ‘Copied to Clipboard’ confirmations setting. Additionally, Microsoft has helped Chrome’s scrollbars color align with browser themes.

What’s your take on this? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.