How to Change Your Browser Tab Title and Icon
How to Change Your Browser Tab Title and Icon
Definition and Usage
The browser tab title and favicon (tab icon) are key elements of a webpage that help users recognize and navigate between open tabs. The tab title appears in the browser tab, while the favicon is the small image displayed next to it.
Updating these elements dynamically can improve user engagement, enhance branding, and even be used for marketing strategies, such as reminding users about your page when they switch to another tab.
How to Change the Browser Tab Title
Static Title (Set Title in HTML)
To set a static title for your webpage, use the <title> tag inside the <head> section of your HTML document: <!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<title>My Awesome Website</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to My Website</h1>
</body>
</html>
This title will appear in the browser tab, search engine results, and when users bookmark the page.
Dynamic Title (Change with JavaScript)
To change the tab title dynamically using JavaScript, use the document.title property:
<script>
document.title = "New Tab Title!";
</script>
This can be triggered by different events, such as when a user switches tabs or spends time inactive.
Example: Change Title When User Leaves the Page
<script>
let originalTitle = document.title;
document.addEventListener("visibilitychange", function () {
if (document.hidden) {
document.title = "Come back! We miss you!";
} else {
document.title = originalTitle;
}
});
</script>
This technique is used by many websites to re-engage users who switch away.
How to Change the Browser Tab Icon (Favicon)
Static Favicon
To set a favicon for your webpage, add the following line in the <head> section:
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="favicon.png">
<script>
function changeFavicon(src) {
let link = document.querySelector("link[rel*='icon']") || document.createElement("link");
link.type = "image/x-icon";
link.rel = "shortcut icon";
link.href = src;
document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(link);
}
// Example usage
changeFavicon("new-icon.png");
</script>
This script replaces the favicon with another image dynamically.
Example: Animate the Favicon
You can cycle between multiple icons to animate the favicon:
<script>
let favicons = ["icon1.png", "icon2.png", "icon3.png"];
let index = 0;
setInterval(function () {
changeFavicon(favicons[index]);
index = (index + 1) % favicons.length;
}, 1000);
</script>
This creates an animated effect in the browser tab, grabbing users’ attention.
Why Change the Tab Title and Favicon?
Updating the tab title and favicon dynamically can:
✅ Re-engage users when they switch tabs
✅ Increase brand visibility
✅ Enhance user experience
✅ Reduce bounce rates
Many e-commerce stores and SaaS platforms use these techniques to bring users back to their sites and boost conversions.
Browser Support
Most modern browsers support dynamic changes to the tab title and favicon, making it a simple yet powerful way to improve user engagement.
Would you like to make this process even easier? TabTitle.io automates tab title changes and icon updates, helping businesses reduce bounce rates and increase conversions effortlessly. Try it today!