URL bar filters in v1.16b: how can I restrict results to extensions only?

[Else00]

Summary
The new URL bar is great for launching things by name (extensions, spaces, etc.), but I can’t find a way to scope results to extensions only. Results are always mixed, and I have to type the full extension name to see it (often not even as the first result). At that point, it’s faster to open the extension manually.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Update to v1.16b.
2. In the URL bar, start typing the name of an installed extension.
3. Observe that results include many categories (web results, history/bookmarks, spaces, commands), and the extension is not ranked first unless you type the full name.

Expected Behavior

• A way to filter/scope the search to extensions only, so only extensions appear in results.
• Exact/prefix matches for extension names should be ranked at the top when the scope is “extensions”.

Actual Behavior

• I don’t see a documented way to scope results to extensions.
• Extension matches are often not ranked first even for near-exact prefixes.

Questions

• Is there an existing shortcut or operator to filter only extensions?
  For example, something like:
  • e:<name> (e.g., e:ublock)
  • @ext <name>
  • A keyboard shortcut that pre-fills the scope (e.g., Ctrl+E → e:)

Feature Request / Proposals

1. Scope operators in the URL bar:

   • e: = Extensions
   • s: = Spaces
   • b: = Bookmarks
   • h: = History
   • t: = Tabs/Windows
   • c: = Commands/Actions
     When a scope operator is present, hide non-matching categories completely.

2. Ranking improvements (within or without operators):

   • Exact and prefix matches for extension names should be ranked first.
   • If an operator is used (e.g., e:), other categories should be excluded, not just demoted.

3. UI affordances

   • Optional “chips”/toggles above the results to quickly constrain by category (Extensions, Spaces, Bookmarks, etc.), navigable via keyboard (Left/Right to switch chip).
   • Visual hint in the bar (ghost text) showing available operators after typing the first character.

4. Settings

   • “Prefer extension matches when typing extension names” (promote to top).
   • “Remember last scope for this session.”
   • Optional: disable cross-category suggestions when a scope is detected.

5. Keyboard

   • Shortcut to cycle scopes (e.g., Ctrl+1/2/3… or Alt+[ / Alt+]).
   • Shortcut to pre-fill operator (e.g., Ctrl+E inserts e:).

Workarounds considered

• If there is a hidden command, about:config flag, or an existing keyboard shortcut to scope to extensions, please point me to it.

Why this matters

• The URL bar becomes a reliable command palette: faster, predictable, and learnable.
• Power users can keep hands on the keyboard and avoid full names and mixed lists.

Thanks for the great update and for considering these improvements!