YouTube Chapter Jump Bar

WHAT IT DOES

YouTube Chapter Jump Bar is a browser extension that automatically scans the current YouTube page for video descriptions, chapter timestamps, and progress bar markers. It detects chapter timestamps in video descriptions by parsing lines that match timestamp patterns like "0:00 Intro" or "2:30 Main Topic". The extension adds a floating chapter jump bar next to the video player, displaying all detected chapters as a clickable list. Clicking any chapter instantly jumps the video to that timestamp. The extension also provides a panel where you can view all chapters, add custom chapters with custom timestamps and titles, and save chapter history per video. The extension maintains a chapter database per video with chapter history, notes, and tags for each saved video. The main panel displays saved videos with chapter counts and last viewed timestamps. All data is stored locally in your browser using GM_setValue, ensuring your chapter collections persist across page reloads and browser sessions. This helps YouTube viewers, students, researchers, and anyone who watches long-form video content to quickly navigate to key moments, review specific sections, and create custom navigation markers for educational or reference purposes.

WHERE IT RUNS

This extension runs on any YouTube page that displays video content, descriptions, or chapter timestamps – including YouTube watch pages, embedded YouTube players, and any page with YouTube video content. The extension intelligently adapts to different page structures and supports a wide range of common YouTube display patterns. No manual configuration is required per site; the extension automatically detects chapter elements using a flexible pattern matching system. This makes it ideal for YouTube viewers who want to navigate videos quickly using chapter timestamps.

HOW TO USE

Simply install the extension and navigate to any YouTube video page. The extension automatically detects chapter timestamps in the video description and displays a floating "Chapters" bar with all detected chapters. Click any chapter button to jump the video to that exact timestamp. A floating button (📑) appears in the bottom-right corner of the page – click this to open the main panel. The panel shows the current video's chapters as clickable buttons, allows you to add custom chapters with any timestamp and title, and displays your saved chapter history. Use the "Add Custom Chapter" section to create custom navigation markers for any video. The saved chapters section shows all videos you've viewed with chapter data, including the number of chapters and last viewed date. Use the settings section to enable or disable auto-detection. The "Clear All Chapters" button removes all tracking data when needed.

ONE TECHNICAL SECTION – WHY IT WORKS

The extension employs a multi-layered detection system that identifies YouTube chapter timestamps with high accuracy. First, it scans the DOM using a comprehensive set of CSS selectors targeting the video description area and chapter containers. The timestamp extraction uses a regex pattern that matches common timestamp formats: "MM:SS", "H:MM:SS", and "HH:MM:SS" followed by a title. The detection algorithm handles both plain text descriptions and YouTube's structured chapter markers from the progress bar. When chapters are detected, they are parsed into time values (in seconds) and titles, then sorted chronologically. The extension also detects chapter markers already present on the YouTube progress bar. Each video is uniquely identified by its 11-character video ID, and chapters are stored per video in the local database. When a user clicks a chapter, the extension uses the HTML5 video API to set currentTime and optionally triggers play. The chapter bar is positioned as a floating overlay with a clean, dark theme matching YouTube's aesthetic. A MutationObserver detects dynamic content updates and re-scans only when the video description changes, balancing real-time accuracy with system performance.

THE PANEL – DRAG / PER-SITE POSITION / SNAP / COLLAPSE / RESIZE / ESCAPE

The chapter jump panel includes a draggable title bar, allowing you to position it anywhere on screen for convenient access during video watching. The extension remembers your preferred position per website, so the panel opens in the same location each time you return to that domain. The panel supports snap-to-edge behavior – when dragged near screen edges, it gently snaps into place for a tidy workspace layout. You can collapse the panel down to just its title bar by clicking the collapse button, keeping it accessible without taking up screen space. The chapter list and history are contained within a scrollable body, ensuring all content remains accessible even on smaller screens. Pressing the Escape key closes the panel instantly, returning you to your video viewing workflow.

PLEASE NOTE

This extension requires the free BotGentz extension to be installed and enabled, as it relies on BotGentz's userscript injection and GM_* API shims for cross-browser compatibility. Websites frequently update their HTML structures and class names, which may cause chapter detection to break temporarily – we actively maintain the matching patterns and release updates regularly. The extension stores all chapter data, notes, and history exclusively in your local browser storage (GM_setValue); no data is ever transmitted to any external server or third party. The extension does not read, modify, or interfere with any YouTube content, videos, or functionality beyond the page content – it operates on the static page content and stores only metadata (video IDs, chapter timestamps, titles, and notes) that you explicitly create. You are responsible for backing up your chapter data if you switch browsers or clear your storage. Use this tool responsibly and in accordance with YouTube's Terms of Service.