Browser-based retrieval and display of content associated with a link that matches a link signature

A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores executable code that directs a user computing device to perform a method that comprises:

• detecting, via an analysis of content of a web page loaded on the user computing device, that the web page includes a link that matches a pre-specified link signature;
• in response to detecting that the link matches the pre-specified link signature, retrieving, over a network from a content server that is distinct from the web site, supplemental content associated with said link;
• and
• supplementing the web page with a display object that displays the supplemental content in association with the link.

A system that provides functionality for supplementing pages of web sites with content, the system comprising:

• a content server configured to serve content in response to requests from browsers running on user computing devices, including catalog content associated with particular products represented in an electronic catalog;
• and
• a repository of update handler code that is adapted to be transmitted to, and executed by, user computing devices in connection with the pages, said update handler code configured to cause a user computing device to at least:
• detect that a page loaded by a browser includes a link that matches a link signature associated with electronic catalog;
• in response to detecting that the link matches the link signature, retrieve, from the content server, catalog content associated with the link;
• and
• display the catalog content in a display object added to the page.

An affiliate web site, comprising:

• a web server;
• and
• a non-transitory computer data repository that stores a web page served by the web server, said web page including a link to a catalog page of an electronic catalog hosted by a second web site that is distinct from the affiliate site, said web page additionally including an update handler tag, said update handler tag configured to cause a user computing device that loads the web page to load an update hander as part of the web page, said update handler configured to cause the user computing device to at least:
• detect that the link matches a pre-specified link signature associated with the electronic catalog;
• in response to detecting that the link matches the pre-specified link signature, retrieve, from a content server associated with the second web site, catalog content associated with the link;
• and
• display the retrieved catalog content in association with the link.