Analyze online content and check out the code used

PageSpy is a small add-on for Internet Explorer that allows you to select any element within a webpage, select an option in the context menu, and view detailed information about both the coding behind the page and the element you selected.

I reckon this kind of tool isn’t going to appeal to your general web surfer, and if I had to specify a group that it has been designed for, it would be novice and intermediate web developers that are curious about how particular websites or page elements work.

You can view various sections according to the tags at the top of the window. An obvious inclusion is the source code of the page but PageSpy will also show the DHTML code; in other words the resulting code generated once the script has been processed by the server. You can view what cookies have come attached with the page you are viewing and add more your own if you want. Other information that is especially useful to up-coming developers can be seen under the “Forms” and “CSS” tabs. These both layout the respective elements in a very readable way and let you expand the view of each to show the source.

The “This” tab is relevant to whatever element you selected before right clicking, and it will give you a huge list of the properties that may apply to it. Many of the properties won’t apply and will return “Null”, but knowing that it has been checked can often be just as useful.

I was very impressed by this tiny program’s capabilities. It’s both very convenient and informative, a difficult combination to find. The only qualm I have is that it is only available for Internet Explorer. A definite for anyone learning the trade of web development.

If you are a web developer, a web designer or a tester, you need PageSpy! PageSpy is an invaluable tool that will help you save precious time writing and debugging web pages. It can also help you understand the structure and function of existing pages on the web.

Once installed, PageSpy is added to the context menu of Internet Explorer. You can then right click any web page and analyze its contents in PageSpy. PageSpy will save you time right from your first mouse click: the program displays the page source and navigates directly to the HTML element you clicked.

From here, many useful functions are available. PageSpy can show you the DOM based source as well as the original HTML source. It can also analyze any forms within the web page and show you all the information you need, including the form method, action and all input variables. PageSpy can download any external files referenced within the web pages.

PageSpy is quick and easy to install. Once you have used PageSpy we believe you will wonder how you ever managed without it. However, should you want to remove PageSpy from your machine, it can be completely uninstalled without leaving any residual files. All versions of PageSpy are guaranteed to be 100% free of viruses and spyware. It is quick and doesn’t hang your browser.