uBlock
pronounced you-block (/ˈjuːˌblɒk/
) — you decide what enters your browser.
English,
Chinese (中文)
**An efficient blocker add-on for various browsers. Fast, potent, and lean.** [
](https://travis-ci.org/gorhill/uBlock)
* [Purpose & General Info](#philosophy)
* [Performance and Efficiency](#performance)
* [Memory](#memory)
* [CPU](#cpu)
* [Blocking](#blocking)
* [Quick tests](#quick-tests)
* [Installation](#installation)
* [Chromium](#chromium)
* [Firefox](#firefox)
* [Safari](#safari)
* [Release History](#release-history)
* [Wiki](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki)
## Philosophy
uBlock is not an *ad blocker*; it's a general-purpose blocker. uBlock blocks ads through its support of the [Adblock Plus filter syntax](https://adblockplus.org/en/filters). uBlock [extends](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Filter-syntax-extensions) the syntax and is designed to work with custom rules and filters.
That said, it's important to note that using a blocker is **NOT** [theft](https://twitter.com/LeaVerou/status/518154828166725632). Don't fall for this creepy idea. The _ultimate_ logical consequence of `blocking = theft` is the criminalisation of the inalienable right to privacy.
Ads, "unintrusive" or not, are just the visible portions of privacy-invading apparatus entering your browser when you visit most sites nowadays. **uBlock's main goal is to help users neutralize such privacy-invading apparatus** — in a way that welcomes those users who don't wish to use more technical, involved means (such as [µMatrix](https://github.com/gorhill/uMatrix)).
_EasyList_, _Peter Lowe's Adservers_, _EasyPrivacy_ and _Malware domains_ are enabled by default when you install uBlock. Many more lists are readily available to block trackers, analytics, and more. Hosts files are also supported.
Once you install uBlock, you may easily un-select any of the pre-selected filter lists if you think uBlock blocks too much. For reference, Adblock Plus installs with only _EasyList_ enabled by default.
## Performance
#### Memory
On average, uBlock
really does make your browser run leaner.
[1]
Chromium
[2]
![](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/gorhill/uBlock/master/doc/benchmarks/mem-usage-overall-chart-20141224.png)
Firefox
![](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/gorhill/uBlock/master/doc/benchmarks/mem-usage-overall-chart-20150205.png)
Safari
[1] Details of the benchmark available at Firefox version: benchmarking memory footprint.
[2] Important note: There is currently a [bug in Chromium 39+ which causes a new memory leak each time the popup UI of an extension is opened](https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=441500). This affects all extensions. Keep this in mind when measuring Chromium's memory usage. In the benchmarks, I avoided opening the popups completely.
#### CPU
uBlock is also easy on the CPU
![](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/gorhill/uBlock/master/doc/benchmarks/cpu-usage-overall-chart-20141226.png)
Details of the benchmark available in this LibreOffice spreadsheet.
#### Blocking
Being lean and efficient doesn't mean blocking less
![](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/gorhill/uBlock/master/doc/benchmarks/privex-201502-16.png)
For details of benchmark, see
uBlock and others: Blocking ads, trackers, malwares.
#### Quick tests
- [Index](http://raymondhill.net/ublock/tests.html)
- [Web page components](http://raymondhill.net/ublock/tiles1.html)
- [Popups](http://raymondhill.net/ublock/popup.html)
## Installation
Feel free to read [about the extension's required permissions](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/About-the-required-permissions).
#### Chromium
You can install the latest version [manually](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/tree/master/dist#install), from the [Chrome Web Store](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm), or from the [Opera store](https://addons.opera.com/en-gb/extensions/details/ublock/).
#### Firefox
Install from [Firefox Add-ons homepage](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock/), or you can install by downloading the latest [uBlock.firefox.xpi](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/releases) file, and by dragging the downloaded `xpi` file to your add-on page.
#### Safari
Install the latest uBlock for Safari [from its homepage](https://chrismatic.io/ublock/), or a potentially-outdated version from the [Safari Extension Gallery](https://extensions.apple.com/details/?id=net.gorhill.uBlock-96G4BAKDQ9).
Safari 6.1 and later (developed on Safari 8/Yosemite; tested on 6.1/Mountain Lion and 7/Mavericks).
#### Note for all browsers
To benefit from uBlock's higher efficiency, it's advised that you don't use other inefficient blockers at the same time (such as AdBlock or Adblock Plus). uBlock will do [as well or better](#blocking) than most popular ad blockers.
## Release History
See the [releases pages](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/releases) for a history of releases and highlights for each release.
## Documentation
[Quick guide: popup user interface](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Quick-guide:-popup-user-interface)
![Popup](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/gorhill/uBlock/master/doc/img/popup-1.png)
For advanced usage, read about [dynamic filtering](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/Dynamic-filtering:-quick-guide) and more on [uBlock's wiki](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki).
## About
[uBlock's manifesto](MANIFESTO.md).
Free. Open source. For users by users. No donations sought.
Without the preset lists of filters, this extension is nothing. So if ever you
really do want to contribute something, think about the people working hard
to maintain the filter lists you are using, which were made available to use by
all for free.
You can contribute by helping translate uBlock [on Crowdin](https://crowdin.net/project/ublock).
## License
[GPLv3](https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/blob/master/LICENSE.txt).