All About Web Browsers
Last updated: March 6, 2009
Web browsers, often referred to just as browsers, are software applications used to locate and display Web pages on the
World Wide Web. While this is the most popular usage, browsers can also
be used to access and view content on a private or local network
as well. Most, but not all browsers are graphical browsers,
which means that they can display graphics as well as text. In addition,
most modern browsers can present multimedia information, including sound
and video, though they require plug-ins for some formats.
How Web Browsers Work
The
World Wide Web is a system of
Internet servers that support specially
formatted documents. Web browsers are used to make
it easy to access the World Wide Web. Browsers are able to display
Web pages largely in part to an underlying
Web protocol called HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP). HTTP defines how
messages are formatted and transmitted, and what actions Web servers and
browsers should take in response to various commands. It is what allows
Web clients and Web servers to communicate with each other. When
you enter a Web address (URL) in your browser, this actually sends an HTTP command to
the Web server directing it to fetch and transmit the requested Web
page and display the information in your browser. All Web servers
serving Web sites and pages support the HTTP protocol.
Example: The URL to reach the
definition of browser on Webopedia is:
http://www.webopedia.com/browser.html
Once you enter the URL "http://www.webopedia.com/browser.html"
into your address line, the browser breaks that Web address down into three
distinct parts.
- The Protocol: "http"
- The server name: "www.webopedia.com"
- The file name, which follows the
server name: "browser.html"
In order for your browser to actually
connect to the Web server to retrieve the information you request,
it communicates with a name server to translate the server name into
an IP address. Your Web browser is then able to connect to the Web
server at the resolved IP address on port 80. Once your
browser has connected to the Web server using HTTP, the browser then
reads the HyperText Markup Language (HTML), the authoring language
used to create documents on the World Wide Web, and the data is then
displayed in your Web browser.
A Web browser is actually a software application that runs on your
Internet-connected computer. It allows you to view Web pages, as well as
use other content and technologies such as video, graphics files,
and digital certificates, to name a few. Some browsers will translate
only text while others do support graphics and animation. Web browsers
are not all created equal, and Web pages also will not be displayed the
same in different browsers.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) is currently considered the dominant
browser. IE version 7X offers tabbed browsing, instant access to e-mail,
integrated RSS support, better standards compliance, a built-in phishing
filter, advanced security (cross-domain script barriers, International
Domain Name Anti-Spoofing protection and so on), and an option for deleting
browsing history by removing user-identifiable information. The latest
version of IE supports Windows XP, Windows 2003.
As of March
2009, Windows Internet Explorer 8 has been made available in as a RC
(release candidate) version, which means it is undergoing final testing.
The RC is available for the following operating systems; Windows XP,
Windows XP 64-bit Edition, Windows Vista, Windows Vista 64-bit Edition,
Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 64-bit Edition, Windows Server
2008, and Windows Server 2008 64-bit Edition.
Mozilla Firefox Web Browser
Mozilla Firefox
is a free, open source, cross-platform, Web browser developed by the
Mozilla Corp. and hundreds of volunteers. Mozilla Corp. is
responsible for the browser, where volunteers and enthusiasts have
created many of the plug-ins available for the browser. Firefox offers
support for many standards including HTML, HTML, XML, XHTML, CSS,
ECMAScript (JavaScript), DTD, XSL, SVG, XPath and PNG images. The
browser can also be used on a variety of operating systems such as
Windows, Mac OSX, BeOS, FreeBSD, Linux, and others. Industry statistic
show that around 12 percent of Internet users are using Mozilla Firefox.
The current version of Firefox is 3.0.7, but as of March 2009 there
is a 3.1 beta 2 release that is available for testing.
Google Chrome
Web browser
Google Chrome is a Web browser designed
for Windows systems. It offers users a minimal design and what Google
calls 'sophisticated technology' to make the web faster, safer, and
easier on Windows-based PCs. Google Chrome features searching from the
address bar, thumbnail views of your favorite pages for quick access, a
private browsing function that opens an incognito window when you don't
want to save your browsing history, instant bookmarks, crash control and
dynamic tabs. The browser works with Windows Vista and Windows XP.
Opera Web browser
Opera is an international Web browser, developed in Norway. It is
available for Windows 3.x and Windows 9x/NT/2000/XP/2003 in four
different languages. The most current release, Opera 9x, includes
widgets, support for BitTorrents, support for a wide variety of image,
audio, and video formats, as well as enhanced HTML features, JavaScript,
server push capabilities, Opera e-mail, voice technology, and client
side image mapping.
Netscape Web browser
The first commercial Web browser was
Netscape. The latest version is
available for Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98 SE and Windows ME.
Netscape Browser 8x is the next-generation release of Netscape's
venerable and once extremely popular Web browser. Version 8.0 is based
on code from company spin-off Mozilla, borrowing much of the
functionality and format from the increasingly popular Firefox browser. The Netscape browser offers integrated pop-up
controls, tabbed browsing features, and a password manager, but the most
interesting and unique feature is the dual rendering and layout engines
that allow users to switch between Firefox and IE.
5 More Web Browsers
AOL Explorer
AOL uses Microsoft's Trident engine, the same engine that powers
Internet Explorer. The latest 1.5 version offers enhanced security,
built-in pop-up control, tabbed browsing and a feeds screensaver, use
themes to customize the look and feel of your browser, and also create
desktop widgets from panels.
GreenBrowser
GreenBrowser is an open source Web browser that uses Microsoft's Trident
engine. It offers some unique features, like the option to search direct
by dragging text in the browser.
Swiftfox
Swiftfox is a Web browser for Linux platforms that
is based on Mozilla Firefox technology, with builds for both AMD and
Intel processors.
Lunascape 5
Lunascape
is a 'triple-engine' Web browser that uses Microsoft's Trident, the
Mozilla Foundation's Gecko is developed by the Mozilla Foundation, and
WebKit (also used for Google Chrome). Lunascape is an excellent browser
for Web developers who often find themselves needing to switch between
browsers to test functionality of a site. Lunascape-specific features
include anti-crash technology, triple engines that can represent every
web site on the planet quickly and precisely, plus design skins
customizable to your heart's content.
Konqueror
Konqueror is a Web browser, file manager and file
viewer that is a core part of the K Desktop Environment. It runs on most
Unix-based operating systems and is licensed under the GNU General
Public License.
Vangie 'Aurora' Beal -
Writer, www.Webopedia.com
Last updated:
March 06, 2009
WinPlanet
Browser Downloads
Includes downloads for browsers as well as browser plug-ins.
WinPlanet Web
Browser Downloads
Contains updated information and downloads for many Web browsers
including Internet Explorer, Opera, Firefox, AOL Explorer, HotJava, and
more.
Browser
Statistics
Provides browser usage statistics on a monthly basis.
Cnet: IE
Vs. The World - 6 Web browsers Reviewed
Rapidly forcing IE from desktop dominance is Mozilla Firefox. This
open-source browser receives our highest rating, in part because it
includes tabbed browsing and RSS feeds, is very easy to use, and is well
supported with a variety of third-party plug-ins.
PC
World: Browser Wars
Are you sick and tired of Internet Explorer? Have you grown weary of the
constant vulnerabilities and patches? Do you scratch your head at sudden
program lockups and crashes? Are you dismayed that Microsoft hasn't
lifted a finger to improve or enhance IE since it buried Netscape's
Navigator browser at the dawn of the century? |
