How to View Source Code

This updated guide examines How to View Source Code and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1

Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Internet Explorer

1. Open your web browser. The process for viewing source code on Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Internet Explorer is the same.
2. Navigate to a webpage. It should be a page whose source code you wish to view.
3. Right-click the page. If you're using a Mac computer with a one-button mouse, you can hold downControland click instead. If you are on a laptop with a trackpad, you can use two fingers to click the page instead. This will invoke a drop-down menu.
   • Don't right-click a link or a photo when doing this or else the wrong menu will appear.
4. ClickView page sourceorView Source. Doing so will display your browser's source code in a new window or at the bottom of the current window.
   • You'll see View page source for Chrome and Firefox, and View Source for Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer.
   • You can also pressCtrl+U(PC) or?Option+?Command+U(Mac) to display the source code.

Method 2

Safari

1. Open Safari. This is a blue, compass-shaped app.
2. ClickSafari. It's in the top-left side of your Mac's menu bar. Doing so invokes a drop-down menu.
3. ClickPreferences. This option is in the middle of the drop-down menu.
4. Click theAdvancedtab. It's in the top-right corner of the Preferences window.
5. Check the "Show Develop menu in menu bar" box. This option is near the bottom of the Preferences window. You should see a Develop menu appear in your Mac's menu bar.
6. Navigate to a webpage. It should be a page whose source code you wish to view.
7. ClickDevelop. This menu is to the left of the Window menu in your Mac's menu bar.
8. ClickShow Page Source. It's near the bottom of the drop-down menu. Clicking this option will prompt Safari to display the webpage's source code.
   • You can also press?Option+?Command+Uto display the source code.

Method 3

On Wikis

1. Navigate to the page you want to view the wiki source code for.
2. Click on the "View source" or "Edit" tab.
3. Scroll through the source and select/copy the code you want to copy on your site.