And they will totally change how you use the web client.
Safari is probably the most important app on your iPhone or iPad.
Some folks rarely leave it, other than to post photos to Instagram or reply to a WhatsApp.
Taras Shypka / Unsplash
And yet, it remains quite limited compared to a desktop web app.
In iOS 15, thats about to change.
So what’s happening?
Thankfully, Apple went for the de-facto extension industry-standard technology called WebExtensions, app developerAlex Chernikovtold Lifewire via email.
Initially, it was Chrome’s extension API, but over time, all major browsers have adopted it.
Making extensions has become pretty easy these days.
You make it onceand it runs in Edge, Firefox, Opera, and Brave.
Privacy First
web app extensions are a big security risk.
Usually, they have access to all the data loaded into a web page.
Thats fine if youre using an extension from a trusted developer, but things can go wrong, fast.
Thankfully, Apple went for the de-facto extension industry-standard technology called WebExtensions.
An extension doesnt just get access to a page when you click to activate it.
By default, an extension has access to all pages loaded into your web app.
That means your email, your bank, everything.
Extensions in iPadOS 15 Safari dont work like that.
“They took an interesting approach that’s different to what we can see in other browsers.
), it’s a good notion.”
Chernikovssoftware company, Gikken, is currently developing an iOS 15 extension for itstranslation app, Mate.
I have been testing it out, and its quite neat to pick which sites load the extension.
Then you visit Safaris Extensions prefs.
“iOS Safari extensions are little websites, too, but packaged into the parent app.
How long it takes depends on the project’s size,” says Chernikov.
And another consideration is look and feel.
An extension built for Chrome probably wont look right in an Apple internet tool.
ExtensionsWorth It?
So far, the pain of making iOS Safari extensions is all with the developer.
iOS Safari extensions are little websites, too, but packaged into the parent app.
“You still need to initiate the extension separately, and it’s pretty hidden away.
But the benefits are worth it.
The Mate translator, for example, is seamless.
Its better than the built-in version, and thats been impossible in Safari until now.
