Zen browser, the Firefox-based desktop web browser often recommended to those fleeing the abandoned Arc browser, has received its latest update, which adds an interesting text-based control feature and a number of smaller updates and security fixes. The latest version of Zen Browser ( version 1.16b ) moves from Firefox 142 to version 143, which itself added a handful of nifty features and fixes to the web experience, but the Zen development team also added some of its own touches. The most notable new feature in Zen browser is the Command Bar, which appears to be based on the Command Palette mod for Zen. The Command Bar is still in its infancy, and new features will be added as it matures, but it currently supports basic commands like toggling compact mode, creating tabs and folders, splitting the view, opening extensions, and pinning tabs at the time of writing. It allows you to access features by typing their name directly into the URL bar, which is a win for those users who rely on keyboard-heavy workflows.

Split View has also received some attention, with a new keyboard shortcut (cmd+alt+=) and polished UI to split a window, and performance and UI improvements to the drag and drop function to create a Split View. The overall UI and performance have also been addressed to make things feel less cluttered and more integrated as a whole. The UI now switches smoothly between Compact and regular modes when switching spaces, performance and scrolling have been improved in the Glance pop-up window, and the URL bar has been redesigned "for improved usability and richer results." Overall, these latest changes seem to be positive steps in service of Zen's promise, which is a browser that is focussed on productivity and a minimalist, customizable UI.