Test version Firefox shows search query instead of URL in URL bar

The test version of Firefox, Nightly, has started showing the search query in the URL bar instead of the full URL of the search query. The function can be turned off. Firefox only replaces the URL when using the default search engine in the browser.

It is unknown why Mozilla wants to test the change. Ghacks notes that the change can be reversed by unchecking an option in the settings menu. The function can be found there under Search and under the option to use the URL bar as a search bar.

This is enabled by default in Nightly and ensures that users see the search term instead of the full URL of the search query. The URL is also not easy to retrieve, so users cannot copy the link to a search query, for example. In addition, users can no longer verify the domain they are on, Ghacks says.

It is unknown if and when the feature will arrive in the stable version of Firefox. Typically, it takes several weeks to months for features in the Nightly version to be included in the stable version. The change is in Nightly version 110, the stable version of which should be released in February.

Firefox: search term instead of URL bar. Left: stable Firefox 108, right Firefox Nightly 110