Browse the Internet with Opera

Using a Web browser for the first time, or switching from one browser to another, is usually fairly intuitive and painless. Still, there are a few tricks to be learned. We will first give you general information on how to use a browser before we tell you how to browse the Internet at the speed of Opera.

What is a browser?

Information retrieval

A Web browser is a program for retrieving information on the World Wide Web. As you probably know, you are using a browser right now to view this document. To find this document, you have most likely clicked on a number of links, or you may have entered an Internet address (URL) directly into your browser's address field.

Having several browsers installed on your computer, and using them, is quite possible. Note, however, that some browsers, though not Opera, may try to take control and set themselves up as your default browser.

Navigation with a mouse

Toolbars

All browsers have toolbars with a collection of buttons and fields. These buttons perform the most commonly used and most useful functions related to surfing the Web.

Go backGo to previous page

Browsers keep a record of a certain number of pages you have visited. Going back to a previously visited page is therefore easy -- just click on the "Back" button.

Browsers keep a record of a certain number of pages you have visited. Going back to a previously visited page is therefore easy -- just press "Options" and select Navigation > Previous.

Go forwardGo to next

Going forward is just as easy -- just click on the "Forward" button. Note, however, that going forward is only possible after first having gone back.

Going to the next page is just as easy -- press "Options" and select Navigation > Next. Note, however, that going forward is only possible after first having gone back.

Go home

It's easy to get lost on the Internet. But it's even easier to get home. Instead of continuously clicking the "Back" button until you get back to where you started, simply click the "Home" button once. This will take you to the page you have set as your home page.

It's easy to get lost on the Internet. But it's even easier to get home. Simply press "Options" and select Open > Home page or use the keypad shortcut 4. This will take you to the page you have set as your home page. You can set your home page by following the instructions in this article.

Reload

Sometimes an interruption occurs and part of a Web page is lost. Reloading the page by clicking the "Reload" button once then becomes necessary. This is also useful for pages that change on a regular basis, like newspaper sites. Automatic reload of specific sites is possible in Opera.

Note that, in order to save space, the Opera "Reload" button is hidden under the "Stop" button while loading a page.

Sometimes an interruption occurs and part of a Web page is lost. Reloading the page once then becomes necessary. Press "Options" and select Navigation > Reload page. This is also useful for pages that change on a regular basis, like newspaper sites.

Stop

If you would like to stop loading a page, often because the page is heavily loaded with images or you are at the receiving end of a slow connection, simply click the "Stop" button once.

Note that the Opera "Stop" button is replaced by the "Reload" button after loading is complete in order to save space.

New window

Open an additional window by clicking on the "New" button. Clicking a link while holding down the Shift key tells Opera to Open that link document in a new window.

Print

If your system is correctly configured and connected to a printer, simply clicking the "Print" button will print the active document. In Opera, selecting File > Print preview mode shows you what the printed document will look like.

Display modes

Press "Options" and select Display to get access to Opera's different display modes.

Full screen

The entire screen will be made available for browsing if you activate this mode. Full screen is off by default. Press "Options" and select "Display > Full Screen" or use the keypad shortcut * to toggle full-screen mode.

Small screen

This function toggles Opera's Small-Screen Rendering. When activated, all content will be reformatted to fit your screen. When disabled, Opera will show pages without changing them to fit your screen.

Press "Options" and select "Display > Small Screen" or use the keypad shortcut # to toggle Opera's Small-Screen Rendering.

Fly the Web at the speed of Opera

Mouse gestures in Opera

Opera now supports mouse gestures for most basic operations. For example, holding your right mouse button down while sliding your mouse downward will open a new window. This speeds up mouse navigation quite a bit.

Open "Preferences" from the "File" menu, or press Alt+P. Then select "Accessibility" to turn mouse gestures on or off.

Keyboard navigation and shortcuts

Normal menu navigation can be a bit slow. But there are better ways!

With Opera, you can navigate the Internet using the keypad. When you open menus, note that a keypad shortcut is suggested for some function.

Long time use of the mouse may cause pain, and some people may have disabilities that make surfing with a mouse difficult. Normal mouse navigation can also be a bit slow. But there are better ways!

With Opera, you can navigate the Internet without a mouse, using only the keyboard. Indeed, every feature and function in Opera can be operated without a mouse. When you open menus, note that a keyboard shortcut is almost always suggested for every function.

Work your way through our excellent tutorial, Using Opera without a mouse, and become a certified Opera pilot!