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Building up on the Custom Tabs feature that was released in 2021 to enable a richer in-app browsing experience, Google is rolling out Partial Custom Tabs and Auto-Fill to enhance the browsing experience for Android users.
The partial custom tabs will allow developers to define the height of the new tab, which will launch partially on the screen — instead of a full view — until the user swipes up to expand the tab. The partial tabs are designed to allow the user to interact with both the app and in-app browsers as they choose.
For example, when you tap on a link inside the app, it’ll open in the bottom half of the screen. You can then choose to view it in full screen. This window will also feature the ‘Running in Chrome’ label.
According to Google, partial custom tabs are currently only supported by a few browsers on Android, including Chrome, and additional browser support is expected soon. So, if the user’s browser does not support partial tabs, they’ll open as full-screen custom tabs.
In addition, people will now also be able to auto-fill passwords or forms with details like their address in the in-app browser tab, without having to leave the app, which will be helpful for in-app logins.
“To keep users engaged with your app, Chrome now gives you more control over tab height with Partial Custom Tabs. You can customize the tab in pixels for a partial overlay, allowing users to simultaneously interact with your native app and the web,” Google announced on Tuesday.
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