SingleFile

SingleFile is a browser extension that allows you to save a complete web page, including images, styles, and fonts, within a single, self-contained HTML file. The tool preserves the original appearance and functionality of the page for offline viewing. The saving process does not create folders with multiple external resources. The result is a portable file that can be opened in any modern browser without an Internet connection.

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• Save as a single file. The main function compiles all the page's resources (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Base64-encoded images, embedded fonts) into a single HTML file. This method eliminates dependence on external links and ensures the page displays correctly on any device, even when the original online resources become unavailable.
• Automatic saving. The extension can be scheduled to save web pages automatically at user-defined intervals. This feature is designed to capture changes on pages with dynamic content or frequent updates, creating a local version history of the content's evolution.
• Save multiple tabs. Allows you to select and simultaneously save all open pages in a set of browser tabs. The operation processes each page sequentially, generating an individual HTML file for each one, streamlining the process of archiving research sessions or sets of related pages.
• Integrated editing. Includes an editor that allows you to modify the content of the saved HTML file directly within the extension's interface. Users can remove unwanted sections, adjust styles, or correct content before saving the final version, without needing external software.
• Content compression. Applies compression algorithms to textual data (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) before embedding it into the final file. This reduces the size of the resulting file, especially on pages with large amounts of code, making it easier to store and transfer.
• Extract selected content. Offers the ability to save only a specific part of the web page, marked by the user with the cursor. The function analyzes the selected fragment of the DOM, identifies its style and image dependencies, and generates a self-contained HTML file that contains exclusively that selection and its necessary resources.
• Silent save mode. Runs the saving process without opening confirmation dialogs or file name selection prompts. It uses an automatically generated file name based on the page title and saves it to a predefined system location, which is suitable for automation and systematic captures.
• Inject print styles. Modifies the page's CSS styles during the saving process to optimize its appearance in printed format. It adjusts margins, removes non-essential user interface elements, and ensures the content is structured correctly for transfer to paper.
• Settings synchronization. Stores user preferences and extension settings in the browser's synchronization services. This allows the same customized behavior, keyboard shortcuts, and saving options to be available across all SingleFile installations where the user is signed in.
• Defer remote resources. Provides an option not to embed certain resources (like large images or specific fonts) into the HTML file. Instead, it keeps references to the original URLs. This generates smaller files, but their offline viewing depends on the future availability of those resources on their source servers.
• Network request filtering. While capturing the page, the extension can block the loading of resources from specific domains defined by the user. This allows you to exclude ads, trackers, social media widgets, or any content considered non-essential for archiving, simplifying and cleaning up the final result.
• Export to MHTML format. In addition to the standard HTML format, it can save pages in MHTML (MIME HTML) format, an archived standard that also encapsulates all resources in a single file. This format is natively recognized by some browsers and email clients, offering a compatibility alternative.

The SingleFile extension was initially created by Gildas Lormeau. Its development began as an open-source project in 2013. The tool is primarily written in JavaScript, utilizing web browser extension APIs. Throughout its history, it has evolved from basic saving functionality to incorporate a broad set of features for web preservation. The developer community has contributed improvements, compatibility fixes, and adaptations for different browsers, including derivatives like SingleFileZ, which adds advanced compression.

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