What is a Web Browser?
A brief, comprehensible definition of web browser and its importance to the internet
A web site browser is computer software that lets you go online, display and interact with text, videos, music, and other information.
The "browser" is what you use when you are looking up information or accessing your favorite entertainment web sites.
When you type an internet address (or URL) in the browser, such as www.youtube.com, it is the web site browser that takes you to that web page and displays YouTube's content on your screen.
Benefits of Website Browsers
Website browsers benefit internet users in many ways. The best thing about a website browser is that it handles all of the programming code so you don't have to. Every thing you view online is created using programming languages (like HTML).
Can you imagine what it would be like trying to view web pages in the computer programming languages they are written in? To our eyes, the code would appear to be nothing but gibberish!
The browser takes the programming code, and translates the language into text and images that we understand. You can think of a web browser kind of like an interpreter – a person who listens to someone speaking in a foreign language and then translates it back into your own language so you understand what was said.
Web Browser History - Browsers and Origin
A variety of technologies from the late 1980's came together to create the first Web browser. Tim Berners-Lee created the WorldWideWeb browser in 1991.
The browser was later renamed to Nexus, to avoid confusion between the browser and the World Wide Web (internet).
This browser made it possible to bring together many software and hardware technologies and enabled the creation of new technology. It did not display graphics on the web pages.
In 1993, the NCAA's Mosaic web browser created wild-spread excitement, with being credited as the very first graphical web browser - spurring the future of the different types of top web browsers we use today.
The first browser to begin displaying web pages (like we see now) was Netscape, in 1994. It was released under the code name Mozilla.
Internet Explorer was created in August of 1995, but really didn't introduce much anything new for internet users until 1996, when Internet Explorer version 3.0 introduced something called Style Sheets, which gave web designers more control over how the information would be displayed when someone visited their website(s).
Different Types of Browsers
Today there are many different web browsers; while they all make it possible to travel around the internet looking and interacting with web pages, they have different types of features.
Different web browsers also support different types of technology and programming languages.
Most web browsers have spell checkers, the ability to store and automatically fill in your password on web sites you visit, save your favorite sites, and block pop-up advertisements.
Some offer tabbed browsing, so you can have more than one web page open at the same time, within the same web browser window.
For people who like to customize their web browsing experience more distinctively - applications called "plug ins" can be downloaded from the internet to allow video watching, online radio and other media to be displayed through the web browser.
Web browsers are not just used for personal computers anymore, there are even web browsers that can be used on mobile phones, hand held game systems, and pocket PC’s.
Software and its improvements for a mobile web browser is continuously sought, created, developed, and fine-tuned more and more, as cellular phones and units are sold by the thousands per day.
Website designers, and other graphic developers need to be aware of the different types of web browsers and how they display content.
Web designers also need to know and understand the types of features a browser will work with or not. As a user of the internet, becoming familiar with the features of different web browsers allows you to select one that can enhance your internet experience based on the activities you carry out when you're online.
Can You View Websites Without a Browser?
Websites cannot be accessed without a browser, which is why they are heavily important to the internet! For most websites, it won't matter which browser you use, but you have to utilize one if you plan to go online.
Luckily, pretty much every computer that can connect to the internet comes with an internet browser (usually Internet Explorer). You can then use I.E. to download other various types of web site browsers (if you want to try or use one of the other browsers).
Top 10 Free Internet Website Browsers
There are many different types of web browsers available, but most people use either Internet Explorer or Firefox to access the internet.
The Top Five Most Popular Web Browsers Are:
1) Internet Explorer - most popular web browser, created and maintained by Microsoft, and is intended for computers running Microsoft Windows. Most personal computers come with this browser already installed.
2) Firefox Web Browser - works on all computers, whether you are using Microsoft Windows, Linux, or Mac OS X.
You can download the browser for free from the Firefox website. Utilizers of Firefox typically note this free software as the best web browser, in terms of speed, ease of use/user friendliness, personal customizations, and customer support.
3) Apple Safari - Mac Web Browser – originally designed for use on Mac computers, Safari is now available for both PC's and Mac's and is known for its ability to typically load web pages faster than other browsers.
While this specific browser may be the fastest website browser - Safari still has some problems displaying some types of content on PC's; however, the developers are always working to make it work just as amazing on PC's as it does on Mac computers.
4) Opera – compatible with more operating systems (like Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Solaris, etc) than any other web site browser.
Opera is said to be used more for commercial use than personal use, currently.
5) Flock Web Browser – created using Firefox as the starting point, Flock is a browser made for Web 2.0 (so it focuses on communities like Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, etc; and uses features like social bookmarking).
Additional list of alternative web browsers:
* Galeon
* Maxthon
* Avant
* Camino
* Netscape
* Deepnet
* K-Meleon
Internet Web Browsers have come a long way in such a short time. The popularity of a web browser may not necessarily determine if it is right for you.
Each web browser has its own strengths and custom preferences just for you. When you do get a little extra time, it could be worth it to check a few browsers out and see which one resonates with you and your style; while enhancing your web browsing experience.
