NoClick for Firefox activates text input fields automatically

Whenever you want to use a text input field on the Internet you have to click in the field before you can start to write. While that may not be a huge issue for some users, for instance if text fields are only used sporadically, it may be a nuisance for others.

Users who leave comments on websites regularly or use forms on other sites often for instance, or users who use a touchpad on a laptop to navigate on the Internet.

NoClick is a lightweight add-on for the Firefox web browser that adds several comfortable features to the browser that improve the handling of text fields in it.

Whenever you hover the mouse cursor over a text input field in Firefox after installation, you will notice that it is activated automatically.

What this means is that you can start to write in it right away without having to click first to do so. The mouse cursor is placed at the end of text that is already in the input field.

While that is the main feature of NoClick, it makes available additional features that users may find interesting.

If you move the mouse cursor out of the field all text in it is automatically selected. You can copy the text easily using Ctrl-v then for example or process it in other ways, for instance by right-clicking on it.

When you move the mouse cursor back over the field, it will be activated again but the cursor is placed at the beginning of the field and not the end.

This means that you can place the cursor at the end or beginning easily by using nothing but the mouse to do so.

It may also be useful in situations where you need to fill out several text fields one after the other. While it is usually possible to switch between using the Tab-key on the keyboard, users who prefer to use the mouse for that may do so easily with the add-on installed.

NoClick offers two additional features. The first remembers what you enter on a page, the second highlights boarders of input and textarea fields in Firefox. Both did not work properly during my test. Considering that they are minor features it should not be an issue for most users.

Closing Words

NoClick takes some getting used to time as it is not advised to move the mouse after you start typing. If you do, you may inadvertently move the cursor to another position or activate another text field on the same page.

Once you have used it a bit, it is improving how text fields are selected in the browser.