Defined is a browser extension we built at Hardcode Studios for a simple reading job: look up a word without leaving the page. Double-click any word and an inline definition bubble appears on the page, with links out to further sources if you want them. The product page is on our tools catalogue, and Defined also sits on our browser extensions hub.

The problem it solves

Most of the time you do not need a full dictionary session. You need one word, mid-article, and you want to keep reading. Opening a new tab, typing the word, and hunting for a trustworthy entry breaks the flow. On a phone it is worse: you leave the page, lose your place, and come back later if at all.

Defined keeps the lookup on the page. You stay in the article. The definition comes to you.

What we built

Defined is built as a Manifest V3 browser extension where the platform supports it, and is aimed at Chrome, Edge and Firefox. The public product page describes the core loop clearly:

  • Double-click to define. A lookup goes to the Free Dictionary API with only the word you selected.
  • In-page popup bubble. The definition appears as a bubble on the page, with source links for people who want a fuller entry.
  • Optional local history. If you turn history on, you can export or clear it. That history stays on the device.
  • Context menu. The privacy policy also notes a "Define selection" item on the right-click menu, which covers cases where double-click is awkward.

We are deliberate about how we talk about availability. Defined is built for Chrome, Edge and Firefox. Install interest should go through the Defined tool page rather than through store URLs that are not yet confirmed as live Hardcode listings.

Privacy as a product choice

Dictionary lookups are easy to over-collect. Defined is set up the other way around.

The published privacy policy (effective 11 August 2025) states that Defined does not collect analytics data, usage statistics or personal information, and does not track browsing behaviour or the words you look up. When you define a word, the extension sends a request to the Free Dictionary API (`api.dictionaryapi.dev`) containing only that word. Optional history, if enabled, is stored in the browser's local storage on your device and is not transmitted to Hardcode servers or other third parties. The bubble can also point you to external dictionary sites such as dictionary.com, Merriam-Webster and Wiktionary for a wider read.

That is the kind of privacy posture we prefer on small tools: collect what the feature needs, keep the rest local, and say so in public.

Why this matters if you are weighing us up

Defined is a small product, but it shows habits that show up in client work:

  • A narrow job, done cleanly. One gesture, one result, stay in context.
  • Cross-browser delivery. One Manifest V3 codebase aimed at the browsers people already use.
  • Honest integrations. A named public API for definitions, plus clear outbound links when a fuller dictionary is useful.
  • Local-first options. History is optional and device-bound, not a server-side profile by default.
  • Public product pages. Tool page, extensions hub and privacy policy are all on hardcode-studios.com, so a buyer can check the claims.

If your team reads dense material all day (policies, specs, research, contracts), an inline definition habit is a small quality-of-life win. The same building pattern applies when a business wants a lightweight browser helper that must not become a surveillance tool.

Talk to us

If you want a browser extension or a small productivity tool shaped around a single clear job, get in touch. You can review Defined on the tool page, browse other Hardcode tools on /tools/, or see it alongside our other extensions on the browser extensions hub.