Almost a month after releasing version 141, Mozilla has launched Firefox 142, the latest update to its popular open-source web browser, now available for download.
One of the standout changes comes to Enhanced Tracking Protection in Strict mode, which now features a more flexible exception list. Instead of treating all blocked trackers the same, Firefox splits exceptions into two categories: baseline, which ensures core site functions work properly, and convenience, which covers additional features.
For Windows users, clicking on a persistent notification when the browser is closed or restarted will now properly open Firefox with the relevant webpage, instead of just redirecting to the site’s homepage.
On the customization front, Firefox 142 makes it easier to tidy up the interface. Extensions added to the sidebar can now be removed with a quick right-click, offering a faster way to manage what’s visible without digging through menus.
Several quality-of-life improvements are also included. Scrolling inside the bookmarks dialog has been adjusted so it doesn’t overshoot the component area, while drag-and-drop support for blob images has been improved.
Search results in the address bar are now smarter as well, with fewer duplicate entries pulled from browsing history. Meanwhile, developers working with the Network Monitor will appreciate that request headers, cookies, and parameters are displayed even if a request hasn’t fully completed.
For developers, Firefox 142 introduces a series of important web platform updates. Support for the Prioritized Task Scheduling API allows developers to assign priority levels to different tasks, which should lead to more responsive applications.
The “Selection.getComposedRanges()” API is now available, making it possible to capture text selections across shadow DOM boundaries more accurately. Additionally, the new “URLPattern” API gives developers a standardized way to match and parse URLs.
Regarding AI, a noteworthy addition is the added support for the wllama API, which enables extensions to integrate LLM capabilities directly into add-ons. This opens the door to more advanced, AI-driven functionality inside Firefox without needing to rely on external services.
On top of that, the Debugger has gained a new setting that lets developers control whether the overlay is shown when script execution is paused.
Those eager to immediately download the latest version of Firefox can do so directly from Mozilla’s server.
Windows and macOS users can expect an over-the-air update within the next day. Users of rolling-release Linux distributions should look for Firefox 142 as an update in their repositories over the next few days.
