How Do I Open Web Server in Chrome?

Opening a web server in Chrome can be a useful tool for developers and website administrators. It allows you to test your web applications or host local websites directly from your browser. In this tutorial, we will explore various methods to open a web server in Chrome.

Method 1: Using Chrome DevTools

If you are working on a local project and want to test it in Chrome, you can use the built-in Chrome DevTools to open a web server. Here’s how:

1. Step 1: Open Google Chrome on your computer.
2. Step 2: Right-click anywhere on the page and select “Inspect” from the context menu. Alternatively, you can press Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows) or Cmd+Option+I (Mac) to open DevTools directly.
3. Step 3: In the DevTools window, navigate to the “Sources” tab.
4. Step 4: Locate the file navigator panel on the left side of the DevTools window and find the folder icon with a plus sign labeled “Add folder to workspace.”

   Click on it.

5. Step 5: Select the root folder of your web project or website from your local machine.
6. Step 6: Once added, DevTools will map your local files with the browser. You can now browse your site as if it were hosted on a web server.

Method 2: Using Web Server for Chrome Extension

If you prefer using an extension specifically designed for hosting local websites, the “Web Server for Chrome” extension is a great choice. Follow these steps to set it up:

1. Step 1: Open Google Chrome and go to the Chrome Web Store.
2. Step 2: Search for “Web Server for Chrome” in the search bar.
3. Step 3: Click on the “Add to Chrome” button next to the extension name.
4. Step 4: After installation, you will see a new icon added to your toolbar.
5. Step 5: Click on the extension icon and select the folder containing your web project.
6. Step 6: Once selected, click on the “Choose” button and your website will be hosted locally.

Method 3: Using Python’s SimpleHTTPServer

If you have Python installed on your computer, you can easily start a web server using its built-in SimpleHTTPServer module. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Step 1: Open your command prompt or terminal.
2. Step 2: Navigate to the root folder of your web project using the ‘cd’ command.
3. Step 3: Once inside the project folder, run the following command: python -m SimpleHTTPServer. This will start a web server on port 8000 by default.

If you want to use a different port, specify it in the command like this:
python -m SimpleHTTPServer 8080

You can now access your website by opening Chrome and navigating to http://localhost:8000/ or http://localhost:8080/ (if you used a different port).

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we have explored three different methods to open a web server in Chrome. Whether you prefer using Chrome DevTools, a dedicated extension like “Web Server for Chrome,” or Python’s SimpleHTTPServer module, you can easily test and host your websites locally. Choose the method that suits your needs best and enjoy seamless web development with Chrome!