Chromium refers to a pair of open-source projects that power the Google Chrome Web browser and Google Chrome OS. The Chromium project’s mission is to build an interface for users to experience the Web in a way that’s “faster, safer, and more stable than existing alternatives.” The Chromium OS project, on the other hand, aims to develop a Web-focused operating system and computing experience that’s “fast, simple, and secure.”
Chromium browser releases are designed to run on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and ChromeOS operating systems. While Chromium releases parallel those of Google Chrome releases, Chromium downloads are distinguished from Google Chrome browser downloads by the lack of Google’s branding, the GoogleUpdate automatic updating system, an integrated Adobe Flash Player and sandboxed PDF viewer, and usage statistics and crash reporting options.
The project also offers extensive documentation and source code for developers interested in exploring and/or contributing to the project. The Chromium project’s name is derived from the element chromium, which is the metal used to make chrome.
