~ Browser Tips ~

Hey everyone! I've noticed whilst on the chatroom that some questions pop up around this topic, so I've made a guide to help you out! <3

What is a browser?

Your browser is the program that you're currently using to access the internet. If you come across a bug, it's a good idea to report which browser you're using. Examples include Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, or Opera.

What is a browser Cache?

You might sometimes come across a staff member suggesting that you clear your browser's 'cache'. A browser cache essentially lets your browser 'keep' some of the information about sites that you frequently visit like images. It does this so that the next time you visit the website, it loads faster because your browser already knows what's supposed to be there! Awesome, right?

Well sometimes, if something on the site has changed, your browser doesn't realise, and still uses the 'cached' version of the site. When this happens, you have to 'clear your cache' in order to force your browser to request all of the new stuff, and that should fix it! :) Whoo!

Clear Chrome Cache: 3 lines in top right > Settings > History > Clear browsing data... > Make sure cached images and files selected. Delete!

Clear Firefox cache: 3 lines in top right > History > Clear recent history... > Details > Make sure cache selected. Delete!

Clear Internet Explorer Cache: Cog > Safety > Delete browsing history > Uncheck Preserve Favourites, check Temporary Internet Files.

What is a browser Cookie?

On your travels around the internet, you'll have gotten lots of messages about 'cookies'. Almost all websites use cookies in some way! All they are is a 'name' and a 'value' saved against your browser. Just letters and numbers! :)

Lioden uses cookies to remember things about you. Like, if you've logged in and asked it to remember you, it'll set a cookie in your browser so that the site knows you don't need to log in again!

Cookies can also be used to keep personal settings on a website, so that they serve you only the content that you want to see.

Clearing your cookies will delete all of this information, which is why sometimes if you clear your history and cookies you notice you need to log in again!

Some helpful tips & shortcuts

Did you know that if you've accidentally closed a browser tab, you can use CTRL + SHIFT + T on a Windows machine, or CMD + SHIFT + T on a Mac machine to bring back all the tabs you've recently closed? Neato!

Did you know that you can use F5 and CMD/CTRL + R to refresh the page without clicking the refresh button? Much faster!

Did you know that you can click in a text box, and use CTRL/CMD + A to highlight ALL the text? And then CTRL/CMD + C to copy and + V to paste?

How about CTRL + TAB to cycle through your browser tabs without clicking? Sweet. (You can go backwards through your tabs using CTRL +SHIFT +TAB!)

You can get the raw URL of an image by clicking, holding and dragging the image to your tab bar! It'll open the image in a new tab! Cool! (This doesn't work with lions - Lioden lion images are several layers with transparency that make up your lion. You need to screenshot those instead!)

Have fun browsing!

Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know about your browser or any more handy tips! <3

Fea~