web browser
| Noun | 1. |  web browser - a program used to view HTML documents |
web browser
Web browser
[′web ‚brau̇z·ər]web browser
(World-Wide Web)Web browser
The application program that serves as the primary method for accessing the World Wide Web, one of the major services on the Internet. In order to view a website, its address (URL), such as www.computerlanguage.com, is typed into the search box at the top of the browser, and the site's home page is retrieved. The home page includes an index to other pages on the site as well as to pages on other sites, and those pages are retrieved by clicking "links" (see hypertext).All browsers include bookmarks (Favorites) that store the addresses (URLs) of frequently used pages. Tabs are another useful feature that keep multiple Web pages open for quick access (see tabbed browsing).
Browsers Are Similar
The most popular Web browsers in order of 2018 market share are Chrome, Internet Explorer (IE), Firefox, Edge, Safari and Opera. All Web browsers are free, and most have versions for Windows and Mac. Some browsers are also available for Linux.
All browsers offer similar features. The way users interact with a Web page has more to do with the page than the browser. Web pages contain embedded programs that turn them into applications not much different than the software users install in their own computers. See mobile Web browser.
Web Browser History
The Mosaic browser put the Web on the map in 1993, but by the mid-1990s, Netscape Navigator had 80% of the market. Vying for top spot, Netscape and Internet Explorer (IE) constantly added features that fragmented websites into competing camps. In the early days, one often found sites with notices such as "Best Viewed in Netscape" or "Best Viewed in Internet Explorer." IE eventually trumped Netscape, but over the years lost market share to competing browsers. See World Wide Web, Mosaic, Internet Explorer, Edge browser, Opera, Firefox, Mozilla, Safari, Chrome browser, hyperlink, HTML and microbrowser.
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| Not Much of a Difference |
|---|
| At first glance, Internet Explorer for Windows (top) and Firefox on the Mac (bottom) look identical. Although the placement of menus and icons differ, all browsers provide similar functions. When one browser adds a unique feature, the others follow in time. Users interact with the Web page and its embedded JavaScript code, which is the same no matter which browser or computer environment is used. See platform. |
 |
| Not Much of a Difference |
|---|
| At first glance, Internet Explorer for Windows (top) and Firefox on the Mac (bottom) look identical. Although the placement of menus and icons differ, all browsers provide similar functions. When one browser adds a unique feature, the others follow in time. Users interact with the Web page and its embedded JavaScript code, which is the same no matter which browser or computer environment is used. See platform. |
web browser
web browser
A computer program that interprets HTML and other Internet languages and protocols and displays web pages on a monitor.web browser
Browser Online A software tool–eg, Internet Explorer, Foxfire, Opera that requests and displays HTML documents and other Internet or intranet resources using HTTP; WBs enable Internet navigation to Web sites, by typing in key words or phrases on the subject of interest; once a Web address–or URL–is typed the WB sends the user to a 'home page'. See Surf, URL, Web, Web site.Web Browser
Web Browser
web browser
- noun
Synonyms for web browser
noun a program used to view HTML documents
Synonyms
- browser
Related Words
- application program
- applications programme
- application