A web browser is a program that a modern PC or mobile device user uses almost every day. Meanwhile, such solutions were once a novelty even for IT professionals. It's hard to believe, but there were times when the Internet was already covering the planet with all its might, but not a single browser existed. Today, of course, a web browser is an essential software component of almost any computer. There are dozens of solutions of this type. How do they differ from each other? What are the most notable historical facts that reflect the emergence of browsers? Which IT brands are leading in the development of such solutions?

What is a "browser"?

A browser is a program designed to view web pages (usually located on servers on the Internet) - a special kind of documents written in hypertext markup language - HTML. The main task of such programs is to correctly recognize the algorithms embedded in HTML and display all graphic and text elements from the “web” on the user’s screen as intended by the site’s creators, designers, and programmers.

Today the browser market is represented by a huge number of solutions. Which of them are world leaders? Which programs appeared first? Are there Russian products among the leading browsers?

History of the invention of the browser

According to most IT experts, the world's first web browser appeared in December 1990. Then programmer Tim Berners-Lee released an application that made it possible to recognize commands written in HTML and translate them into text displayed on the screen and additional graphic elements. This program is called "browser".

Tim Berners-Lee worked for a long time at CERN, one of the world's most famous laboratories dealing with atomic particle physics. He found out that computers located in different parts of the organization worked within the framework of a less than perfect document exchange model. CERN scientists lacked a resource that would allow them to quickly find the information they needed by logically navigating between text data in two different files. Then Tim proposed a solution: to organize document flow according to the principles of “hypertext”, which appeared back in the 70s.

By the time the programmer began to implement the concept he had come up with (it was 1989), the Internet had already begun to spread throughout the world. Tim decided that he would create a technology that would allow data exchange via hypertext not only within the CERN network, but in a more global format - between computers on the World Wide Web.

In 1990, Tim Berners-Lee created a special hypertext markup language (called HTML - Hyper Text Markup Language). Soon he wrote a program that allowed him to “translate” HTML documents into plain text. The browser Tim created, called Nexus, was very simple: its capabilities were limited to displaying only letters and numbers. Tim's colleague, Robert Cailliago, continued work on the program and created several new versions of the solution. Browser programs began to appear under a variety of platforms, including the increasingly popular Windows OS.

Browsers for Windows

The world's first browsers thus appeared in the early 90s, at the dawn of the global expansion of Windows OS (later the most popular operating system on the planet). For a long time there was no program for exchanging hypertext information on the Internet via Windows. But in the fall of 1992, a team of programmers from the American corporation NCSA created the Mosaic browser, capable of operating under Microsoft's OS. Soon the developers of this application founded a separate company and launched a new product on the market - Netscape. This browser (as well as its predecessor) had, in principle, all the functions that its analogues have in our time: viewing text formatted in a certain way, pictures and other elements of web pages. It also had almost the same basic controls as in modern browsers: buttons “forward”, “back”, etc. The source code of one of the versions of Mosaic was bought by Microsoft and by the mid-90s it created its own program for viewing the web -pages - Internet Explorer(or IE). Which, due to the prevalence of the Windows OS, has been the most popular solution in the world for many years. But in the late 90s and early 2000s, new browsers began to appear that successfully competed with the program from Microsoft. Today, IE is no longer the undisputed leader in its segment (although its popularity, of course, is still very high).

During the years when the browser market was emerging, various solutions began to appear that complemented their functionality. These include various types of antivirus modules. In particular, already in 1996, the Russian company Doctor Web developed a solution that was unique, according to many experts.

We are talking about the antivirus module Dr. Web for the browser. The tool allowed users to check files for infection through an online form. The Russian program, according to many experts, has become the prototype of “cloud” antivirus technologies, which are only gaining popularity today.

IE competitors

Among the most successful solutions that have become an alternative to Internet Explorer is Opera, Google Chrome(if we talk about global brands), Yandex browser (from Russian programs). Due to the fact that after personal computers Mobile gadgets began to gain worldwide popularity, and various browsers appeared for them as well. In particular, for the iOS platform it is the Puffin program. We will now talk about how all these browsers appeared and their main features.

Google Chrome

Google Browser Chrome is one of the most popular in the world today. However, his global leadership does not surprise modern IT experts. This browser was created by Google, which by the time the program was launched on the market (autumn 2008) had already achieved the status of one of the world's IT giants. Experts believe that the future success of the solution was only a matter of time. At the same time, the released one offered the world a lot of original things. It was able to become different from its analogues existing at that time (such as, for example, Opera and

The most interesting thing is that for a long time Google’s management did not even think about creating a browser under the company’s brand. The corporation's managers believed that the market for programs of this type had long been divided. New browsers, they believed, would not be accepted by the global market. Each user has already chosen their favorite solution, and therefore there are no objective reasons for preference to be given to the program from Google. Moreover, there were concerns about the possible failure of the browser. This would damage the brand's existing reputation.

However, in the camp of the corporation there were enthusiasts who decided that the Google browser would be created. The company hired the best industry specialists to develop the product. And not from anywhere, but from the Mozilla company, which developed one of the best browsers at that time. The result was a solution that had every chance of global success. The Google Chrome browser was a feast for the eyes: lightweight, easy to use, fast and very attractive from a design point of view, it was received with a bang by the global IT community and, importantly, by many users. The first versions of Chrome were for Windows. But already in 2009, browser builds appeared that could work under Linux and MacOS.

Chrome: Investing in Quality

As we said above, many IT experts believe that the Chrome browser from Google has become successful largely due to the position of the developer company. The financial capabilities of the corporation, according to experts, predetermined highest quality programs. Despite the fact that this point of view has opponents, many facts may indicate that Google's investment opportunities played an important role in the success of the browser.

Just remember how the corporation organized campaigns to identify vulnerabilities in its program. As part of one of these, Google guaranteed the payment of significant sums of money to those IT specialists who find significant gaps in the browser’s security system from the point of view of browser security. In some cases, it was a question of allocating several million dollars to such campaigns. Other companies developing similar solutions, experts say, could not afford this. Of course, hackers from all over the world wanted to be candidates for the “prize.” They hacked the security system that was equipped with the most modern version of the Google browser and, in exchange for monetary compensation, told the development company how they managed it. Of course, there was no prosecution under the law (although hacking, as you know, is a punishable act). Accordingly, in the next version of the Chrome browser, it was released taking into account the “patched” vulnerabilities. Users couldn’t help but like this, experts believe. That's why Google's program appeared on more and more computers around the world.

Many users liked the Google browser not so much because of its security aspects, but because of its laconic and very stylish design, which is not typical of most similar solutions. On the contrary, many of Google's competitors tried, according to experts, to “stuff” their programs with many different functions. Which, as it turned out, are not really needed by users (and they can also really slow down the system).

Facts about Chromium

Google has pleased the IT developers of the world not only with its own browser, but also by releasing a rather unique product to the market - Chromium. This is also a web browsing program. It, as can be understood based on its consonance with the main browser, is very close to it technologically. But there is a difference, and it is significant. Chrome browser- Google's main product among similar solutions. It is designed to meet the commercial needs of the company. A significant part of the information related to its development, according to experts, is closed. Chromium, in turn, is an open source web browser. This means that almost all interested programmers from all over the world can use it.

Chromium as a separate browser, according to some experts, is inferior in functionality to its “brother”. However, according to experts, this is not surprising. A minimum of "standard" functions - more freedom for creativity of third-party developers. But the basic user tools in both Google browsers (as well as those created by other Chromium-based programmers) are the same. The main technological advantages characteristic of Chrome are also found in Chromium - speed of operation, simplicity of the interface and management.

The open source that Google developers presented to the world predetermined the emergence of a large number of browsers based on Chromium. They may differ in names (moreover, they may be positioned as ardent competitors of each other), but, in essence, they represent the same platform. In particular, such well-known Russian companies as Mail and Yandex created their browsers based on Chromium.

Opera browser: Scandinavian challenge to world leaders

In the early 90s, two Norwegian programmers, Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner and his collaborator Geir Ivarsey, worked for one of the large telecommunications corporations. In 1993, they were faced with the task of creating a website for their company. They did this, but soon realized that the most popular solution at that time - Mosaic - was not very suitable for displaying web pages. Despite the fact that even then new browsers were appearing in the world, designed to become an alternative to Mosaic, Jon and Geir decided that they would create their own program that could work with web documents more correctly. The first version of the application appeared in the same 1993. The program was called MultiTorg Opera and was used exclusively for the needs of Jon and Geir's employer. But a year later a browser appeared, designed to become recognizable on a planetary scale. The name was completely borrowed from the previous solution. New browser was characterized, according to experts, by minimal consumption of system resources. Many IT experts of those years predicted worldwide popularity for the program.

In 1995, Jon and Geir founded their own company, Opera Software AS. Already in 1996, a program appeared, created under a new brand and name - Opera 2.0. According to experts of those years, the browser coped well with its task of quickly launching web pages. Soon the third Opera appeared. The Internet browser, according to many IT specialists, became completely revolutionary - in particular, it became possible to work in multiple windows mode. The program also introduced the function of automatically filling out web forms and implemented a reliable security protocol. In the fourth version of the browser, a separate

In 2000, a version of "Opera" in Russian was released. Over the years, the Norwegian browser has been constantly improved. New features and functions appeared in it every now and then. In particular, in version 8.0, released in 2005, voice control appeared. In various modifications of the program, original control elements were implemented (such as, for example, “scrolling with the mouse”). A suitable version of the Opera browser was created for Linux, MacOS. The mobile version of the program has become very popular.

The Opera browser, experts believe, perfectly reflected the needs of the time when the Internet was quite slow (and if fast, it was very expensive), and the computers of most users were not very productive. Gradually, the speed of online channels increased, and access to it became cheaper. Computers have become incomparably more powerful. And therefore the main historical advantage of the browser - the speed of processing web pages - has ceased to be so important. This explains why Opera's current market position is far from leading. But, it should be noted, in Russia this browser is among the most popular (according to some data, about 15% of Internet users from the Russian Federation prefer the Norwegian program).

Browser from Yandex

The Yandex company is one of the most recognizable Russian IT brands in the world. Now it is the largest search engine in the Russian Federation, one of the most popular email and news services. On the computers of many Russian users, the Yandex page is the main page. In 2010, the company released its own web browser. The specificity of the solution that appeared on the market was close integration with Yandex branded services - search engine, mail, satellite maps, etc. The Yandex browser surprised many users with its ability to provide various hints that speed up the search for the required data. Many found it attractive, others appreciated the ease of control.

Can we say that the web browser created by Yandex is a 100% Russian development? Of course not. The program is based on the Chromium source code, which is completely open to IT specialists around the world. As we said above, anyone can create their own browser based on it (in fact, this is what happens - now hundreds, if not thousands, of well-known and not so well-known programs for viewing web pages have been created based on Chromium). Therefore, it is worth recognizing (without in any way belittling the merits of the Yandex company) that the main role in the emergence of the popular Russian browser belongs to Google.

Puffin: browser for iOS

In the second half of 2000, mobile gadgets began to gain popularity around the world. One of the technological trendsetters in this segment was Apple company, which has released several lines of devices running a branded operating system - iOS. New browsers from the world's leading development companies began to be released for this platform (as well as for competing ones - Android, Windows Mobile, etc.). Opera, Google and other well-known corporations have created solutions compatible with Apple gadgets. However, along with these solutions, the Puffin Web Browser has become very popular. What are the features of this program?

The peculiarity of the iOS platform is that it does not support one of the most popular multimedia technologies in the world - Flash. For this reason, many of the sites whose content is built on the basis of this standard may not be displayed correctly on Apple devices. The Puffin browser has become a solution that is designed to make it easier for iOS device users to view sites with Flash content. Experts and users who have tested this program speak generally very positively about it. The main task assigned to the browser - playing Flash files - is performed well.

- (English Browser, from browse to view), on the Internet (see INTERNET) a program for viewing hypertext documents (see HYPERTEXT) (pages). The most popular browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer. Most browsers can... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary

See WEB BROWSER Dictionary of business terms. Akademik.ru. 2001... Dictionary of business terms

browser- A program for navigating the Internet and reading hypertext documents in the WWW information environment. [GOST R 52872 2007] browser browser viewer Web navigator Program for navigating and viewing web resources. Usually bundled with browsers... ... Technical Translator's Guide

BROWSER- (English browser) a program that provides search and viewing of information stored in computer networks... Legal encyclopedia

BROWSER- viewer program (see) on www pages. With the help of B. you can take “walks” around (see). In this case, a page of a document is displayed on the computer screen, which can be read if it contains text, viewed if it contains photographs and... ... Big Polytechnic Encyclopedia

Comp. a program that allows you to view information from the electronic network on your computer screen. New dictionary of foreign words. by EdwART, 2009. browser browser, m. and browser, browser, m. [from English. browser, browse - browse,... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

browser- A program for viewing Internet pages, from English. words browse - browse. TP: What browser do you use? client: I have Firefox Internet slang, Computer slang... Dictionary of modern vocabulary, jargon and slang

M.; = browser A program that allows you to view information from a computer network on a computer display; navigator III. Ephraim's explanatory dictionary. T. F. Efremova. 2000... Modern explanatory dictionary Russian language Efremova

- (English browser), a program with the help of which the user searches for information (text, graphics, etc.) in the computer memory or in computer networks, for example. on the Internet... Natural science. Encyclopedic Dictionary

Books

• General history. 5-9 grades. Interactive maps. Federal State Educational Standard (CDpc), Belaichuk O. A.. The publication contains 40 tests and 40 training tasks on the history of the ancient world, the Middle Ages, modern and contemporary history for grades 5-9, made on the basis of interactive computer...
• The world around us. 1-4 grades. Interactive maps (CDpc). Federal State Educational Standard, O. A. Belaichuk. Electronic training manual. Workshop for students of general education organizations. The publication contains 50 tests and 50 training tasks in astronomy, geography, biology, history and…
• Smartphone Honor 7C; Yandex.Browser will protect against hidden mining; Google Lens based on Android; Kaspersky Lab report; Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Pavel Kartaev. Xiaomi announced Russian prices and the start date of sales of inexpensive frameless smartphones Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus. As a result of the next survey, it turned out that Russians are increasingly…

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Each person has unique tastes, preferences, and requirements. If one thing gets tested by a hundred people, each will give a different result. Some opinions will be similar, others will differ and this is natural. In the area software everything is exactly the same. A browser is a program that a person uses to surf the Internet. We run it every day, so it’s important to choose a convenient browser that will meet all the requirements.
Using the browser, you can search for any information, listen to music, watch movies, and play your favorite games. Any rating will be controversial, but let's try to rank the best best browsers. In this article you will look at the criteria for choosing a good browser for Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10. We will study in detail the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. Based on our rating, you will be able to choose a good browser for yourself.

Google Chrome 1st place

This is the most popular browser that exists today. The program can be called the best and fastest on the Windows operating system. Its opening took place in 2008. Chrome was based on the popular Safari browser at that time, made on the WebKit engine. Formally, it was crossed with the V8 javascript engine. Subsequently, this hybrid was renamed Chromium. Such famous companies as Google, Opera Software, as well as Yandex and several other large developers participated in further development. Google was the first to create its own version of the browser on Chromium. A year later, it was installed on 3.6% of computers worldwide. He began to quickly gain popularity, today he is the undisputed leader and occupies 42.21%. It is worth noting that the majority are smartphones that come with a pre-installed browser.

Advantages:

1. High speed. Chrome is significantly superior to its competitors in terms of browser speed, as well as processing of displayed resources. In addition, there is a convenient function for preloading pages, this further increases the speed of work.
2. Safety. The company has implemented reliable technologies that ensure the safety of using the browser. They continue to actively develop. The browser has a database of phishing and malicious resources, which is updated regularly. The browser works according to a unique scheme in such a way that not a single process is used, but several at once, but with lower privileges. Downloading files with .bat, .exe or .dll resolution requires additional confirmation, which reduces the chances of downloading a virus.
3. There is an "Incognito" mode. This is a very convenient feature when you need to view a large number of sites, but not leave traces of their visit on your computer.
4. Thoughtful interface. It is quite simple and contains everything you need, without unnecessary elements. Chrome is the first browser to offer quick access. On the panel you can see the most visited resources. Another feature is the joint use of the address bar and the search engine. Later this feature was implemented in other browsers.
5. Stable job. Recently, there have been no such cases when Google Chrome experienced glitches or was very slow. This can only happen if there are viruses in the system. In many ways, security and stability are improved by using multiple processes that are separated from each other. If one of them stops working, the others continue to function.
6. There is a task manager in the "Additional tools" menu. Almost no one knows about this feature. Thanks to this convenient tool, you can track how many resources an entire tab or a separate plugin takes up. You can find and fix the source of the problem if the application starts to slow down.
7. Large selection of extensions, many of which can be downloaded for free. There are also many plugins and themes. The browser can be customized depending on personal preferences, which is very convenient.
8. It is possible to automatically translate pages. Google Translator is used for this.
9. The program is updated in automatic mode without disturbing the user.
10. Search queries can be specified by voice, for this purpose the service “ OK Google».

Flaws:

1. Starting with version 42.0, support for NPAPI plugins was stopped, including the fairly popular Flash Player.
2. For smooth operation of the application, at least 2 GB is required RAM.
3. Most of the extensions and plugins are made in a foreign language.
4. A significant load on the hardware contributes to the short battery life of laptops and smartphones.

I've been using Chrome for quite a long time, and as my main browser. During the entire period of work, he did not cause any serious complaints. Its integration into the system of other Google services is very convenient. One account can connect your computer and mobile device, there is the possibility of continuous synchronization.
I don’t like the fact that all user data is stored on American servers (most likely now the data is stored on Russian servers). Mail, personal contacts and search information are stored there. True, we should not exclude the possibility that other browsers do the same. You need to take precautions whenever possible, then you will have nothing to fear. If you do not want to disclose your own data, but still continue to use Chrome, then use SlimJet or SRWare Iron, we will talk about them below.

Yandex.Browser 2nd place

The browser has the shortest history; it was opened in 2012. It is extremely popular in Russia. The browser supports integration with Yandex services, which are very convenient to use. The default search engine is Yandex. The interface turned out to be quite original, even though it was created on the Chromium engine. The quick launch panel immediately catches your eye. It is made in a tiled style.

The user can place up to 20 tiles. The browser uses a “Smart String”, which not only transmits the entered phrase to the search engine, but also automatically selects the required site if the name matches. Unfortunately, so far this function only works with large resources. Mouse manipulation is supported, with which you can control the viewing of web pages with simple movements.

Advantages:


Flaws:

1. Not everyone will like the original interface.
2. Linking to various Yandex services. Without them, the program is deprived of many features.
3. Rarely, but still problems arise with transferring settings and history.

Not everyone will like the new interface, because it is radically different from its competitors. It will take some time to get used to such features.

Mozilla Firefox 3rd place

Now Mozila is the most popular foreign browser, and in Russia it ranks third. Over the past few years, it has begun to lose ground, but only slightly. The first version of the program appeared in 2004, since then there have been many changes. The application engine is Gecko - it is freely available and continues to be improved by developers. Formally, this is the first browser that had huge database extensions before Chrome even existed. He was among the first to implement the maximum confidentiality regime that Google invented.

Advantages:

1. A simple and very convenient interface with no unnecessary details.
2. A convenient settings system that allows you to radically change your browser, customizing it to your liking.
3. A large number of various plugins. They can be selected to suit any taste, because at the moment there are more than 100,000 of them.
4. Cross-platform. The browser can be downloaded for any operating system that is used on modern technology.
5. Reliability. I have found myself in situations where the user caught a banner that blocked all browsers, but Firefox continued to function.
6. Maximum level of security and privacy of personal data.
7. Convenient bookmarks bar.
8. The program may refuse to allow various websites to track information about you. You can set up private browsing. In addition, there is a Master Passwords feature that further protects your entries on certain resources.
9. Updates occur in the background without the need for user intervention.

Flaws:

1. Compared to Chrome, the interface is a little slower and takes longer to respond to user manipulations.
2. Performance is average;
3. Lack of script support on some resources, as a result of which the content may not function properly.
4. The application requires a large amount of RAM to run.

Opera 4th place

This is the oldest browser, which was opened back in 1994. I started using it about 15 years ago, and I still use it as needed. Until 2013, Opera had its own engine, but now Webkit+V8 is used. The exact same technology is used in Google Chrome. In 2010 the company opened mobile version programs. Now it is the fourth most popular browser in Russia, and in the world it ranks sixth.

Advantages:

1. Excellent speed of operation and page display. Features of the browser include turbo mode, which significantly increases page loading speed through the use of cloud technologies. At the same time, traffic is saved significantly, which is very important when using the mobile version.
2. There is a convenient express panel with saved bookmarks. This is a modified tool Speed ​​Dial, which we saw in previous versions of the browser.
3. Opera Link technology, which is needed to synchronize different devices.
4. Lots of hotkeys for easy control.
5. Opera Unite Internet browser.

Flaws:

1. To work effectively, you need a large amount of RAM. If you open several tabs at the same time, Opera will start to slow down. Even the reliable Chrome engine does not improve the situation.
2. On many sites, scripts and various forms are observed to work incorrectly. There are a large number of complaints when working with WML.
3. Stability cannot be called strong point browser. The company was never able to get rid of periodic crashes and freezes.
   4. Own bookmarking system, nicknamed “Piggy Bank”. This is quite an interesting solution, but it is poorly implemented.

I use Opera only as an additional browser. The "Turbo" function is useful when working with a modem, because in this case it combines high page display speed and savings in traffic consumption. Using Unite technology, you can turn your browser into a real server. On it you can provide access to a variety of files, exchange SMS notifications and photographs. The files are stored on the PC and become accessible only when the program is launched. This is an excellent replacement for Chrome if for some reason you do not want to use it.

K-Meleon 5th place

This application began to be developed back in 2000. In fact, it is a relative of Mozilla Firefox; they use the same engine. You may ask why he was included in the rating if they are practically the same? The fact is that they have strong differences. For example, today K-Meleon is the most light browser For Windows systems. Such results were achieved thanks to the features of its development. Initially, the program was only supposed to demonstrate the capabilities of the new engine. As a result, the company was able to achieve economical consumption of PC resources.

Advantages:

1. Small requirements for PC resources, including a low amount of RAM.
2. Using the native Windows interface, which significantly saves time and resources spent on the interface.
3. High speed.
4. Good personalization options, and you don't need to use third-party extensions for this. Everything is arranged using macros. It will be difficult for a beginner to master, but you can figure it out in your free time.
5. There is a large selection of assemblies. You can choose an extension with the desired set of functions.
6. You can create multiple profiles for different users.

Flaws:

1. Quite a clumsy interface. If you compare it with the Top 5 leaders, then this browser has a too simple design.
2. Rarely, there are problems with displaying the Cyrillic alphabet, but in latest updates the situation has been corrected.

This is the best option for weak PCs. The browser will function normally on an old laptop running an operating system Windows systems XP. You will be able to enjoy comfortable Internet surfing. And it will work even better on modern hardware. Many professionals use it, considering it the best browser. This should not be surprising, because in some respects K-Meleon is superior to its competitors.

Internet Explorer

This is a free browser that is included with integrated Windows software. The development was carried out by Microsoft from 1995 to the present day. Therefore, the browser was one of the most popular in Russia, but then Chrome appeared. Now he has lost a lot of his position and ranks 5th in popularity. The reason can be considered the completion of its development. Along with Windows 10, the company's development, Spartan, was released.
Throughout the history of the browser, it was never considered the best; everyone knew about a large number of vulnerabilities that were exploited by various viruses. For a very long time it was the weak point of every computer running the Windows operating system. The situation changed for the better with the release of Internet Explorer 10, which is included with Windows 8. All the holes in it were corrected and, subject to certain rules, the browser was considered safe.
Version 11 appeared along with Windows update 8.1, it is the latest in the line. In terms of speed, it can be compared with its competitors, but is still slightly inferior to them. Now there is a privacy mode, a preliminary rating, and caching is also supported, which allows you to increase the speed of the browser. Despite successful innovations, the browser is only losing its position. In my work, I use Internet Explorer only to log into the web interface of my home router and other network equipment. There is a simple explanation for this: this is the browser developers use, so the markup is designed for it. It is better to use another browser to view Internet resources.

Now there are many browsers that we did not mention in our review. We've presented our picks for the best browsers, but everyone may have a different opinion. The review represents only those reviewers that I have encountered. They are completely free to download and use without any restrictions. The current version can be found on the official website. If you can suggest decent browsers that should be in the Top 5, then indicate your options in the comments.

Since you are reading this article, then you, like many, are interested in the question, what is a browser? No matter how strange it may sound, you essentially already know the answer to it, you just probably don’t guess it yet. I'll try to explain. To put it briefly, then browser is a program for viewing Internet pages. That is, in order to read the information presented on this page, at a minimum, you had to launch the browser by clicking on its shortcut on the desktop or elsewhere on your computer, and type in the search engine (Yandex, Google and others) the query “ what is a browser"or something similar to this one, find my site in the search results and go to it. Do you see how many independent actions you have already taken? Would you be able to do all this without having the slightest idea what a browser is and how to use it? Of course not.

All your steps have led you to what you were looking for, in this case to this page on my website that you are currently viewing. Now let's go back to the definition of a browser: a program for viewing Internet pages. And, if I understand correctly, this is what you are doing now. You see, you are already using the browser for its intended purpose. Naturally, it has other functions, the main ones of which we will now examine.

Basic browser functions

My regular browser is Firefox, but I often use others at work. I will give you the main features of an Internet browser using, as you guessed it, Firefox as an example, but they are practically no different from the functions of other browsers. And so, let's go.

You launch the browser by clicking on its shortcut with the mouse, and you are taken to your home page. In my case, it is the Yandex search engine (yandex.ru). This page always opens when the browser starts. You can also get to it at any time by simply clicking on the house icon in the upper right corner (circled in red in the picture) or by pressing simultaneously Alt keys and Home. , I think it’s clear.

It is recommended to set the home page to the one you visit most often, from which you would like to start your daily work on the Internet. Changing it is very easy. To do this, just click on “Firefox” in the upper left corner and enter Settings, as shown in the figure below.

A window will appear in front of you, in which in the “Home Page” field you need to enter the address of the required site, for example http://www.yandex.ru or http://vk.com. You can enter the address of absolutely any site. We figured out how to change the home page and what it is. Let's move on.

Since we're talking about website addresses, let's dwell on them. Each site is unique. You will never find sites with completely identical addresses. Let's draw an analogy with real life. It is unlikely that there will be families living in different apartments or houses located at the same address.

The website address very often begins with “www”, but this part can be omitted. Next, separated by a dot, is the name of the site, for example, the same beloved “yandex”. We put another dot and write the end of the address: ru, com, net. org and others. In our case, we received the address of the Yandex search engine “www.yandex.ru”. To get to the site by its address, just enter it in address bar your browser.

For faster access to your favorite sites, they were invented bookmarks. Just click on the star icon to the right of the address bar or press the Ctrl+D key combination, and a window will appear in which you need to enter the name of the bookmark, select the folder required for it and click “done”. You can bookmark absolutely any sites you like; for convenience, they can also be divided into folders. To view bookmarks, you need to click on the corresponding icon in the upper right corner in the case of Firefox, or in a slightly different way depending on the browser.

To make site navigation more convenient, there are tabs. If you want to have several Internet pages open at the same time, then be sure to use tabs. To open new tab Click on the plus sign (circled in red).

Most often the Internet is used for information search. Naturally, it is impossible to do this without a browser. Since you are reading this article now, you most likely already know how to search for information on the Internet. I recommend using search engines such as yandex.ru and google.ru for these purposes. In your request, be as specific as possible about what you want to find. For example, if you live in Moscow and want to buy a car, write this in the search bar "car sales in Moscow".

Types of browsers

There are quite a lot of browsers, but only a few of them have gained popularity. Let's talk about them.

- one of the oldest browsers that has survived to this day. IE is part of Windows, which is probably why it has gained popularity around the world. Perhaps this is his main advantage. Despite the fact that it is being developed by specialists from Microsoft, Internet Explorer lags behind other browsers in many respects; it often displays sites incorrectly, does not support many modern standards, and its speed is not encouraging, although it has noticeably improved in new versions of the program.

Opera is a very old browser, has many different settings, functions and extensions, and is very fast. This browser, in my opinion, will be somewhat difficult for beginners, but if you understand it, you can safely make it the main one for work and entertainment. Personally, I haven't used it much, but I noticed a few negative points. Firstly, it displays some sites a little incorrectly, most often the problem is increasing the font size. Think, this error will be fixed in new versions. Secondly, when Opera first launched, for some reason it did not import bookmarks, passwords, history and other data from my other browsers. This function I still found it, but the path to the profile with the data had to be specified manually. In my opinion, this is somewhat inconvenient. Maybe I did something wrong, I don’t deny this point, but the fact remains a fact. Yandex Browser, for example, coped with this task in no time. Thirdly, there was a case when I opened only one page, while neither the browser nor the computer was restarted by anything, after which Opera froze for about half a minute, maybe more. Of course, these are all coincidences, and this can happen with any browser, I’m just sharing my impressions of using them. In general, the browser is very good; it supports all, or almost all, modern standards and technologies.

— first appeared in 2002, is regularly updated, supports all modern standards, displays sites as correctly as possible, has many additional extensions and plugins that are easy to install and update. Firefox also has its drawbacks: sometimes the browser freezes for a while, sometimes even for a few minutes, after which its work may stop altogether, citing some kind of error. It also happens that the browser, in simple terms, is buggy. For example, now on some sites you have to manually enter logins and passwords every time, despite the fact that they are saved in the browser and should be displayed automatically. I also noticed such a glitch as the periodic loss of spell check: sometimes it disappears on its own and then appears on its own, without me doing anything. It is worth noting that Firefox has very good support, so all problems are often solved in new versions or in other ways, which can be found on the program forum.

- appeared relatively recently, in 2008, but has already gained popularity all over the world. Google Chrome can be described in three words: fast, simple and convenient. Despite its visual simplicity, the browser has all the necessary capabilities and supports all modern standards. Even a beginner can master it in a matter of minutes. Proof of the convenience of Google Chrome is the fact that many of the technical details first used in it were subsequently borrowed from it by other browsers. For example, tabs in browsers for a long time were located under the address bar, above which there was also a menu in the form of drop-down lists, as a result of which the browser header turned out to be quite cumbersome. If my memory serves me correctly, then for the first time in Chrome, the tabs were moved under the address bar, and the menu was moved to a completely different place.

- is the youngest browser on this list and in the world as a whole; at the time of writing, its age is only a month, but despite this it is actively gaining popularity, as a rule, among the Russian-speaking population. In my opinion, he has a great future, especially in Russia and the CIS. But if Yandex makes more efforts, the browser may go far beyond the borders of our country, although it’s hard to believe, we’ll see. It combines all the advantages modern browsers, and also has its own individual characteristics. For example, only in this browser did I see that the titles of Internet pages are displayed not only in the tab, but also in the address bar. In my own way appearance and the interface of Yandex Browser is very similar to Google Chrome, they are also made on the same engine. The browser works very smoothly, quickly and without brakes, at least that’s how it behaved in my case. It is worth mentioning separately about the Yandex Browser security system, which was developed at Kaspersky Lab, as well as Turbo technology, which speeds up the loading of sites, which was created by Opera and will appear in the coming versions of the program. I myself have not tested or verified these developments, since I have neither the opportunity nor the desire.

The list could also include a browser from Apple, but, as far as I know, its development and support for Windows has recently ceased. Let me just say that the browser is really made of very high quality and beautiful, like any other product from Apple. If you want, you can download Safari and use it, you are unlikely to be disappointed.

Which browser is better?

Each Internet user must choose a browser for himself. Neither I nor any other person can completely objectively answer the question of which browser is better. This is most likely a matter of taste. For example, I don’t really like working on Opera, but this does not mean that this browser is worse than others. Many of my friends use it.

As you already understood, my choice on at the moment— Mozilla Firefox. Since I use it more often than others, I have given more specific examples of problems and errors with this browser, but this does not mean that others do not have them. Absolutely every browser glitches at times, just like any other program. Some, of course, have fewer glitches, some have more, but everyone has them. Any browser can freeze and crash, there’s no escape from it.

For beginners, I would recommend browsers such as Google Chrome and Yandex Browser. I'll explain why. They are the easiest to learn, everything is as simple as possible, there is nothing superfluous, complete minimalism. You won't need to scour the jungle of menus to find this or that function, everything is on the surface. But despite their apparent simplicity, both of these browsers are very powerful and support all modern standards. The initial functionality in them without installing any additional extensions is also quite large. For example, only these two browsers are initially able to translate sites from foreign languages. For others, this function becomes available only after installing additional plugins.

Perhaps, objectively, or almost objectively, I can only speak about Internet Explorer. It is this browser that displays websites incorrectly more often than others, and I have also heard that its security system is lame. Despite the fact that IE is the oldest browser on this list, lately it has only had to catch up with its young competitors, and it is not doing it the best way.

When choosing a browser, you can also look at popularity ratings, but I don’t advise you to rely on them. Each person must choose for himself what he likes. For example, in the world there are still a lot of users who prefer IE, but, in my opinion, this is only because it is installed on the computer along with Windows. Most people do not like to change anything and look for the best, but use what they already have. I also used Internet Explorer before, but that was a long time ago. Back then I wasn’t as active an Internet user as I am now, I didn’t know all the intricacies, I thought that sites should be displayed exactly the way they are in Explorer, I just didn’t know any better. If something on a site was missing or was too large or, on the contrary, small, I thought that the error lay in the site itself, but, as it turned out, I was wrong. In the original version of this article, I gave a rating of the popularity of browsers in Russia and in the world as a whole, but then I realized that this was not necessary, since it is constantly changing and it can be done right choice definitely won't help.

When choosing a browser you need to pay attention to several highlights:

• Convenience - each user must decide on this point for himself. To do this, download a browser, work on it for several hours, and if you feel any inconvenience or don’t like something, download and test the next one. And so on until you understand which browser is most convenient for you. In principle, the list is small, so testing will not take long.
• Functionality— by and large, all of the above browsers have sufficient functionality for almost any Internet user. If one or another function is missing, you can always download and install an add-on or plugin.
• Speed ​​- I personally haven’t checked the speed of a particular browser using any services, much less stopwatches. I can say that latest versions Each of them works quite quickly. Somewhere I saw the results of a study, according to which Chrome loads web pages the fastest, and Firefox displays the visible part of the page on the screen. How true this is, I don’t know. I don’t think that Yandex Browser or Opera are far behind them in this indicator.
• Correct display of sites— it would seem, why don’t developers update their browsers and make them display sites correctly. Imagine how cool it would be if every site looked exactly the same in all browsers, how many fewer problems would there be for layout designers (specialists who “pull” the design onto the site), but no, developers cannot yet bring their browsers to this level perfection, but it's a pity. I would like to note right away that browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Yandex Browser display sites as correctly as possible. Opera also supports almost all modern standards, but there are still times when it does not display a particular style correctly. Recently, it was because of her that I had to redo the font sizes on one of my sites, since she increased them very much. Also go, for example, to Yandex Market and see how it is displayed in Opera and in any other browser listed above, I’m sure you will see the differences. I don’t really want to talk about Internet Explorer, but I will still say: this is one of the most backward browsers in terms of correctly displaying sites. It doesn't play well with shadows and other effects. Very often, a separate style file is written specifically for IE so that it at least somehow copes with its task.
• Security - I’ll be honest, I didn’t check this point in any special way. I know that Chrome and Firefox seem to be fine with this, you can also bet big on Yandex Browser thanks to cooperation with Kaspersky Lab, I can’t say anything specific about Opera, I heard about IE that the security system is so-so. In any case, install antivirus software on your computers, and everything will be fine.

When it comes to choosing a browser, never completely trust anyone’s opinion. What someone else seems comfortable and ideal, you may not like at all, and vice versa. The most important thing in a browser for ordinary Internet users, in my opinion, is convenience. If you are satisfied with the work of the browser, its interface is pleasant and it is simply convenient to use, then you are unlikely to pay special attention to other points. But in any case, try to evaluate the browser on the other points listed above and then make your final choice. Moreover, now, I hope you understand what a browser is, why it is needed and how to use it correctly. Personally, I would advise you to take a closer look at Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, Yandex Browser also performed well, but, I repeat once again, this is just my subjective opinion.

If you have any questions, problems with the choice or operation of a particular browser, you are welcome to comment.

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