How do I get the URL of the current tab? (popup extension)

**sois** · 03-08-2011, 08:12 PM

Hi guys, I'm trying to submit a form with the current web page I am on. I really don't know how to get the current URL to pass along to the form. This is driving me crazy!

Current code is very simple:

Code:

<script>
function SubmitForm() {
  document.getElementById('url').value = WHAT GOES HERE?
  document.forms['myform'].submit();
}
</script>

<body onload="SubmitForm()">
<form id="myform" action="PageSubmittingTo" method="post">
<input type="text" name="url" id="url">
<input type="submit" name="s">
</form>
</body>

**sois** · 03-08-2011, 09:24 PM

Code:

<script>
function SubmitForm() {
  chrome.tabs.getSelected(null, function(tab) {
    document.getElementById('url').value = tab.url;
  });
  document.forms['myform'].submit();
}
</script>

I figured it out, you have to assign the value inside of the callback. I don't know what a callback is but I"m glad I figured it out! Hope this helps someone.

**PAEz** · 03-09-2011, 12:00 PM

Im not the smartest cookie, but a callback is....
A function that gets called after your request is finished.
In this case your asked for the selected tab, when chrome figures out which one it is it calls your callback.
One thing about callbacks....you never know when its going to get called. In your code you seem to be assuming the callback will happen before the line document.forms['myform'].submit()....you prolly shouldnt be doing that and instead include that line in your callback.

**sois** · 03-09-2011, 04:34 PM

Code:

<script>
function SubmitForm() {
  chrome.tabs.getSelected(null, function(tab) {
    document.getElementById('url').value = tab.url;
    document.forms['myform'].submit();
  });
}
</script>

Thanks! That actually makes more sense and works great!
I was getting some weird side effect by not having it within the callback.

The request/callback terminology is tripping me up, but hopefully with baby steps of progress like this, I will learn. To me it still looks like a function inside of a parameter area of another function and that makes zero sense to my brain. Thank you PAEz!

**PAEz** · 03-09-2011, 06:22 PM

I was getting some weird side effect by not having it within the callback.

This side effect is whats called a race condition.

Maybe it would help you visualize it better if you wrote it like this.....

Code:

<script>
function callbackForSubmitForm(tab) {
    document.getElementById('url').value = tab.url;
    document.forms['myform'].submit();
  }

function SubmitForm() {
  chrome.tabs.getSelected(null, callbackForSubmitForm);
}
</script>

...thats perfectly valid code and might help with visualizing whats going on.
Notice that in the chrome.tabs.getSelected the callbackForSubmitForm doesnt have the () , thats because were referencing that function not executing it (hope I got that right, I should, Waha's giving me two reminders on it so far

).
The way the function is being used for the callback in your code is called an anonymous function.

Well I hope that didnt just confuse more

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