What Is a Web Browser? GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Internet, Networking, & Security > Browsers 414 414 people found this article helpful
What Is a Web Browser?
What a web browser is and how it works
By Scott Orgera Scott Orgera Writer Scott Orgera is a former Lifewire writer covering tech since 2007. He has 25+ years' experience as a programmer and QA leader, and holds several Microsoft certifications including MCSE, MCP+I, and MOUS. He is also A+ certified. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 16, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Browsers Chrome Safari Firefox Microsoft The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a web browser as "a computer program used for accessing sites or information on a network (such as the World Wide Web)." This is a simple yet accurate description. A web browser talks to a server and asks it for the pages you want to see. How a Browser Retrieves a Web Page
The browser application retrieves (or fetches) code, usually written in HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and other computer languages, from a web server. Then, it interprets this code and displays it as a web page for you to view. In most cases, user interaction is needed to tell the browser what website or specific web page you want to see. Using the browser address bar is one way to do this. URLs Are Key
The web address, or URL (Uniform Resource Locator), that you type into the address bar tells the browser where to obtain a page or pages. For example, when you enter the URL http://www.lifewire.com into the address bar, you're taken to Lifewire's home page. The browser looks at this particular URL in two main sections. The first is the protocol, which is the http:// part. HTTP, which stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol, is the standard protocol used to request and transmit files on the internet, most web pages, and their respective components. Because the browser knows that the protocol is HTTP, it knows how to interpret everything located to the right of the forward slashes. The browser looks at www.lifewire.com (the domain name), which tells the browser the location of the webserver it needs to retrieve the page. Many browsers no longer require the protocol to be specified when accessing a web page. This means that entering www.lifewire.com or lifewire.com in the address bar is usually sufficient. You often see additional parameters at the end. These parameters further pinpoint the location, which is, typically, particular pages within a website, for example, https://www.lifewire.com/about-us. Anything after the / (slash) is an additional web page within Lifewire.com. Once the browser reaches this web server, it retrieves, interprets, and renders the page in the main window for you to view. The process happens behind the scenes, typically in a matter of seconds. Popular Web Browsers
Web browsers come in many different flavors, each with their own nuances. The best-known ones are free, and each has options governing privacy, security, interface, shortcuts, and other variables. The main reason a person uses any browser is the same: to view web pages on the internet, similar to the way you see this article. These are the most popular web browsers: Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Opera Many others exist, however. In addition to the big players, try these out to see if any fits your browsing style: Maxthon Vivaldi Brave Microsoft Internet Explorer, once the go-to in browsers, has been discontinued, but the developers still maintain Internet Explorer 11 that comes with Windows 10. Microsoft no longer supports Internet Explorer and recommends that you update to the newer Edge browser. Head to their site to download the newest version. FAQ How can you get a web browser on a Roku TV? The easiest way to get a web browser on your Roku TV is to use Windows' screen mirroring feature. To use it, select the Action/Notification Center in the lower-right corner of the screen > Connect > choose your Roku TV from the list of available devices. What was the first web browser? The first web browser was WorldWideWeb, developed in 1990 by an English computer scientist named Tim Berners-Lee. It was later renamed Nexus. How do you update a web browser? If you're using Chrome, select More (three dots) > Update Google Chrome if the option is available. If you're using Safari, open the App Store, go to the Updates tab, and download and install the latest patch. For Microsoft Edge, go to Settings & More (three dots) > Help & Feedback > About Microsoft Edge, then download the latest update if one is available. How do you change your web browser? If you want to change your default web browser in Windows 10, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps and scroll down to the Web Browser section. On a Mac, go to the Apple menu > System Preferences > General and choose a web browser from the Default web browser menu. What is the best web browser? That depends entirely on your preferences and needs. If you're a fan of Google's products, Lifewire recommends Chrome. Apple users will probably want to stick with Safari, while people interested in security might try Brave. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How Web Browsers and Web Servers Communicate How to Troubleshoot an Error in a URL How to Fix a 404 Page Not Found Error 503 Service Unavailable Error Message: What It Is and How to Fix It What Is a 401 Unauthorized Error and How Do You Fix It? How to Clear Cookies for a Specific Site Home Pages: What Are They? What Is the Google Chrome Browser? 502 Bad Gateway: What It Is & How to Fix It DNS Servers: What Are They and Why Are They Used? How to Fix the 400 Bad Request Error Microsoft Edge vs. Google Chrome How to Use the PS4 Web Browser How to Fix a Connection-Is-Not Private Error What Is a URL (Uniform Resource Locator)? How to Activate InPrivate Browsing Mode in IE Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies