This wikiHow teaches you how to view the source code of a website, which is the code behind any website (such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript), on most common browsers. Excluding a Safari trick, you cannot view a website's source code while using a mobile browser.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Internet Explorer

  1. 1
    Open your web browser. The process for viewing source code on Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Internet Explorer is the same.
  2. 2
    Navigate to a webpage. It should be a page whose source code you wish to view.
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  3. 3
    Right-click the page. If you're using a Mac computer with a one-button mouse, you can hold down Control and click instead. If you are on a laptop with a trackpad, you can use two fingers to click the page instead. This will invoke a drop-down menu.
    • Don't right-click a link or a photo when doing this or else the wrong menu will appear.
  4. 4
    Click View page source or View Source. Doing so will display your browser's source code in a new window or at the bottom of the current window.
    • You'll see View page source for Chrome and Firefox, and View Source for Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer.
    • You can also press Ctrl+U (PC) or Option+ Command+U (Mac) to display the source code.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Safari

  1. 1
    Open Safari. This is a blue, compass-shaped app.
  2. 2
    Click Safari. It's in the top-left side of your Mac's menu bar. Doing so invokes a drop-down menu.
  3. 3
    Click Preferences. This option is in the middle of the drop-down menu.
  4. 4
    Click the Advanced tab. It's in the top-right corner of the Preferences window.
  5. 5
    Check the "Show Develop menu in menu bar" box. This option is near the bottom of the Preferences window. You should see a Develop menu appear in your Mac's menu bar.
  6. 6
    Navigate to a webpage. It should be a page whose source code you wish to view.
  7. 7
    Click Develop. This menu is to the left of the Window menu in your Mac's menu bar.
  8. 8
    Click Show Page Source. It's near the bottom of the drop-down menu. Clicking this option will prompt Safari to display the webpage's source code.
    • You can also press Option+ Command+U to display the source code.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

On Wikis

  1. 1
    Navigate to the page you want to view the wiki source code for.
  2. 2
    Click on the "View source" or "Edit" tab.
  3. 3
    Scroll through the source and select/copy the code you want to copy on your site.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    The view source doesn't exist on my Mac, where do I find it?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    To be able to view the source code of a webpage under Safari, you first need to enable the Developer menu: Click on Safari menu > Preferences > Advanced. Check "Show Develop menu in menu bar" Close the Preferences window Go to the Develop menu > Show Page Source
  • Question
    How do I view the source code of an image on a page without seeing the code for the whole page?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Right-click on the image and select "Inspect" from the available options.
  • Question
    How do I create HTML source code for an image that I have on my computer?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Add the image location on your computer to the source code. Make sure the file is available and then run.
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Warnings

  • Be wary of downloading third-party applications that claim to display the source code of a website.
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About This Article

Jack Lloyd
Written by:
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jack Lloyd. Jack Lloyd is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. He has over two years of experience writing and editing technology-related articles. He is technology enthusiast and an English teacher. This article has been viewed 921,489 times.
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Co-authors: 31
Updated: December 26, 2022
Views: 921,489
Article SummaryX

1. Open the website in a browser.
2. Right-click the page.
3. Click View page source or View source.

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