Element Hiding Helper for Adblock Plus

Element Hiding Helper for Adblock Plus Review

Element Hiding Helper for Adblock Plus serves a specific yet valuable purpose for users of the popular Adblock Plus extension within the Firefox browser. Its core function is to provide a user-friendly method for hiding elements on a webpage that Adblock Plus's standard filter lists might miss or intentionally leave in place. This addresses a common frustration where, even after blocking ads, unsightly blank spaces or other unwanted non-ad content remains, disrupting the visual flow of a website.

The extension integrates directly into the Firefox browser and activates through a simple button or context menu option. Once activated, the user enters a mode where hovering over different elements on the webpage highlights them. A click on the highlighted element selects it. The helper then presents a dialog showing potential filter rules based on the selected element's attributes (like ID, class, or tag). This provides a degree of flexibility, allowing users to choose a rule that is specific enough to hide only the desired element but not so broad that it hides unrelated content on other parts of the site or on different websites.

Upon confirming the rule, Element Hiding Helper automatically adds it to the user's Adblock Plus custom filters. This is a crucial piece of functionality, as it makes the hiding persistent across future visits to the website. Without this helper, achieving the same result would require manual inspection of the webpage's source code to identify the element's CSS selector and then manually adding a corresponding '##' hiding rule to Adblock Plus filters. This process is significantly more technical and time-consuming, making the helper a valuable tool for non-technical users.

From a usability perspective, Element Hiding Helper is straightforward. The visual selection process is intuitive, and the interface for choosing the appropriate filter rule is clear. It effectively abstracts the complexity of CSS selectors, making element hiding accessible. The seamless integration with Adblock Plus is a key strength; it doesn't require separate management or configuration beyond adding the generated rules to the existing Adblock Plus setup.

While highly effective for its intended purpose, it's important to understand the scope of this extension. It is purely a tool for hiding elements, not blocking the loading of those elements or the scripts associated with them. The element is still downloaded by the browser; it is simply made invisible. For blocking, Adblock Plus's core filtering capabilities are still necessary. Additionally, Element Hiding Helper is specifically designed for Firefox and Adblock Plus; it does not function with other browsers or ad blockers.

Potential areas for consideration, though minor, might include more advanced options for refining filter rules directly within the helper interface for users who need more precise control over complex selectors. However, for the vast majority of users looking to simply hide leftover blank spaces or inconvenient content, the current functionality is more than sufficient.

In summary, Element Hiding Helper for Adblock Plus is an excellent companion extension that significantly enhances the user experience for Adblock Plus users on Firefox. It simplifies the process of customizing webpage appearance by providing an intuitive way to hide unwanted elements. If you use Adblock Plus on Firefox and are bothered by residual visual clutter on websites, this helper is a must-have tool that effectively bridges the gap between ad blocking and complete webpage customization.