Microsoft Edge is the official name for a new and improved Web browser introduced in Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system that was developed to replace the venerable Internet Explorer Web browser.
Microsoft Edge combines recent web technology advancements with a streamlined and faster browsing experience, while also delivering compatibility and a consistent user experience across a wide variety of computers and devices.
Microsoft Edge originated under the Project Spartan codename, but In April 2015 Microsoft announced that Project Spartan would carry the official name of Microsoft Edge. Microsoft Edge will be the only browser in Windows Phone 10, and it will be the default browser in Windows 10, with Internet Explorer 11 available as a backup option for presenting legacy web sites.
Microsoft Edge Features and Compatibility with IE-Designed Web Sites
Some of the unique features in Microsoft Edge include built-in support for Cortana, Microsoft’s voice-activated intelligent assistant technology; Reading Lists and Reading Views for a more organized, efficiently managed approach to Web browsing; and capabilities for “inking” (writing or typing directly on a Web page) via integration with Microsoft OneNote and then sharing these notes or comments with others via e-mail or a social network;
Microsoft Edge was also developed to ensure compatibility with existing Web sites that were designed specifically for Internet Explorer. Microsoft Edge does this by dynamically loading the Internet Explorer 11 engine for legacy Web sites when needed, while opting for the new Edge rendering engine when loading more modernized Web sites.
Microsoft Edge can be evaluated by users as part of an updated Windows 10 Technical Preview release first made available in March 2015.
