The program that serves as your front end to the Web on the Internet. In order to view a site, you type its address (URL) into the browser's Location field; for example, www.computerlanguage.com, and the home page of that site is downloaded to you. The home page is an index to other pages on that site that you can jump to by clicking an underlined hyperlink or an icon. Links on that site may take you to other related sites.
Bookmarks
Browsers have a Bookmark or Favorites feature that lets you store references to your favorite sites. Instead of having to type in the URL to visit the site again, you select the bookmark.
It Started with Mosaic
The Mosaic browser put the Web on the map in 1993, but by the mid-1990s, Netscape Navigator (commonly called "Netscape") had 80% of the market. Vying for top spot, Netscape and Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) constantly added new features and functions that fragmented Web sites into competing camps.
As of mid-2008, IE, which is included with every Windows PC, has approximately 74% of the market, while Firefox has 18%. Safari comes in third with 6%, and Opera and Netscape each have less than 1%. Google entered the Web browser arena in late 2008 and is expected to grab a fair share (see Google Chrome).
Best Viewed By...
In the early days of the Web, there was a feature battle, and sites would often say "best viewed by Netscape" or "best viewed by Internet Explorer." This notice is rarely seen today as all browsers support standards that render most Web pages the same. See Mosaic, Opera, Firefox, Mozilla, Safari, Google Chrome, Maxthon, hyperlink, World Wide Web, HTML and microbrowser.
The Most Well Known
Internet Explorer and Netscape are the two major browsers used to access the Web. Similar in features and function, each new version includes enhancements that the other generally catches up to in its next release. (Web page examples courtesy of Pyramid Studios, www.artistexpo.com)
There Are Others
Opera is a highly respected Web browser from Norway that offers many unique features, including the ability to magnify the image as shown here (see Opera). (Web page example courtesy of Pyramid Studios, www.artistexpo.com)
Bookmarks
Browsers have a Bookmark or Favorites feature that lets you store references to your favorite sites. Instead of having to type in the URL to visit the site again, you select the bookmark.
It Started with Mosaic
The Mosaic browser put the Web on the map in 1993, but by the mid-1990s, Netscape Navigator (commonly called "Netscape") had 80% of the market. Vying for top spot, Netscape and Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) constantly added new features and functions that fragmented Web sites into competing camps.
As of mid-2008, IE, which is included with every Windows PC, has approximately 74% of the market, while Firefox has 18%. Safari comes in third with 6%, and Opera and Netscape each have less than 1%. Google entered the Web browser arena in late 2008 and is expected to grab a fair share (see Google Chrome).
Best Viewed By...
In the early days of the Web, there was a feature battle, and sites would often say "best viewed by Netscape" or "best viewed by Internet Explorer." This notice is rarely seen today as all browsers support standards that render most Web pages the same. See Mosaic, Opera, Firefox, Mozilla, Safari, Google Chrome, Maxthon, hyperlink, World Wide Web, HTML and microbrowser.
The Most Well Known
Internet Explorer and Netscape are the two major browsers used to access the Web. Similar in features and function, each new version includes enhancements that the other generally catches up to in its next release. (Web page examples courtesy of Pyramid Studios, www.artistexpo.com)
There Are Others
Opera is a highly respected Web browser from Norway that offers many unique features, including the ability to magnify the image as shown here (see Opera). (Web page example courtesy of Pyramid Studios, www.artistexpo.com)
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Serv-U 9.1.0.2 (Windows)
- Serv-U is a powerful, easy-to-use, award-winning File Server from RhinoSoft.com. Serv-U supports the FTP, HTTP, and SFTP protocols to ensure maximum compatibility with the widest range of transfer client software. With support for industry-standard SSL encryption, Serv-U protects your data while it's in transit. A powerful Web-based interface allows administrators...
- Software downloads 2009-11-21
- Active LogView 2.09.1.33 (Windows)
- Active LogView is a full-featured Web server log analysis program that installs directly on the server. Because the program runs on a Web server, large log files do not have to be downloaded and anyone with a browser can access reports. It can analyze log files from MS IIS and...
- Software downloads 2009-11-21
- Who's afraid of the big bad cloud?
- Not even hybrid apps?Right, got it. You hate everybody who doesn't buy your religion, which doesn't even allow for hybrid applications."I ask why I?d entrust sensitive data to a user with a laptop."You're right, companies can't even trust their own employees. Heck, let's send everybody home and dissolve the whole...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-20
- Will Microsoft's Silverlight dampen the appeal of Google's Chrome OS?
- MS is the past Google is the future so NopeGoogle is the old MS, MS is the old IBM. PC_DOS never made it, MS_DOS did. The driving factor was openness and innovation.Today and in the near future, Google has bothToday MS sees profit only and based on thatdrives...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-20
- Chrome OS - The good, the bad and the ugly, and how it fits in with Windows, Mac and Linux
- Chrome OS - The good, the bad and the ugly, and how it fits in with WindowsI gave it some thought too and realized that Chrome OS only has the bad and the ugly. There is nothing good about it. All data stored in the cloud, and on Google's...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-20
- Mozilla: Still too dependent on Google for revenue; Can it diversify?
- well its in Google best interest ...that mozilla is healthy and and kicking .... anyone claiming monopole they point out that they support Mozilla foundation big time ...Google keep its competition alive they should do more invest in ubuntu ... so they...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-20
- Web Help Desk Pro 9.2.3 (Mac)
- This help desk software Pro edition of Web Help Desk for Mac OS X Server offers an industry leading web-based help desk software that empowers IT help desk technicians with iPhone web-app access, email-to-ticket conversion, trouble ticket email notifications, self-service knowledge base, track billable time & materials, LDAP & AD...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- RemoteSight 1.0.1 (Mac)
- RemoteSight is an application for video and audio transmission over a network. It captures video from any attached video input device (for example the built-in iSight camera included in many Macintosh computers), which can then be viewed on another computer over a network or the internet. The primary use of...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- PHP Studio 2009 2.4.3 (Windows)
- PHP Studio 2008 is an Integrated Development Environment for PHP, providing comprehensive and easy-to-use solution for editing, testing, and deploying PHP based Web applications. Main features of PHP Studio 2008 include: built-in HTTP server and internal web browser for testing PHP scripts, convenient code editor supporting configurable syntax highlighting for...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- Instant Hidden Internet 3.4 (Windows)
- Quickly hide or close all Internet browser windows, chat windows and folder windows with the touch of a customizable hot key boss key. Chat windows stay hidden even if new ones try to pop-up. Windows are even hidden from the Windows Task Manager. To make hidden windows visible, just press...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- Layers 1.1.7 (Mac)
- Layers A different and unique screenshot tool for Mac designers, developers, technical writers, documentalists and Photoshop aficionados. Capture all the windows (including dock bar, status bar, finder icons, etc.) as separated layers in a PSD archive. Also, capture a complete web page directly from major Mac browsers, fast and accurate....
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- Perl Studio 2009 2.3.3 (Windows)
- Top Perl Studio is an Integrated Development Environment for Perl, providing comprehensive and easy-to-use solution for editing, testing and deploying CGI/Perl based web applications. Top Perl Studio offers built-in HTTP server, internal browser, powerful code editor, built-in FTP client, visual file comparison utility, configurable syntax highlighting, file and server explorer,...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- Chrome OS will give Microsoft a run for their money
- SilverLight draws circles around Google's gimmickCompare SL's demo w/ that of ChromeOS and see it for yourself the truth: The former completely owns the latter.RE: Chrome OS will give Microsoft a run for their moneyWhat kool aid are you drinking? NOTHING is secure, and Google wants to take over everything....
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- Google makes Chrome OS open source today
- I like itThe ChromeOS demo looked pretty cool!I'm almost 100% webapp-based already, so I could see myself using a simple, fast & no maintenance OS like that the majority of the time.I like it too, but, for me, I need to compile and run programs locally. I would imagine that...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- Google's Chrome OS: Will you give up desktop apps?
- I won't ntntI can'tI'm not online 24/7. I need local apps, as does everyone else. Say what you want. But network outages happen... Weather by forces of nature or human error, a network will eventually go down. It's only a matter of time. And knowing Google's past GMail outages, I...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- Google makes Chrome OS open source today
- Contrary to rumors, Google did not release a beta version of its much anticipated Chrome operating system today. And nothing is coming anytime soon: the final version is at least a year away, the mega giant web company said. But there was some significant news for the...
- Blog posts 2009-11-19
- Live from Googleplex: Chrome OS details revealed
- Ubuntu 9.10 has more immediate potentialMight I suggest trying Ubuntu 9.10? A phenominal OS with much more to offer then even Windows 7.Open source, free and ready to try today...http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/10things/?p=1122http://www.tuxradar.com/content/vista-windows-7-ubuntu-904-and-910-boot-speed-comparisonhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYgWE6Svpaghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16-nad9N3pgNot that I have readI'd stick with 904immediate potential to sink in obscurityGoogle was Linux's last fleeting chance to turn...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- Next-gen Flip mini camcorder to sport Wi-Fi; Cisco influence finally materializes
- Flip still behindWhen will we get some optical zoom??RE: Next-gen Flip mini camcorder to sport Wi-Fi; Cisco influence finally materializesnow it just needs a web browser, bigger screen, 3g, and calling capabilities and then you got a smartphone!Compete with SLR?People don't buy SLRs for the Wi-Fi.
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- ChromeOS says tear down this network regulation wall
- Costs"What is holding back network capacity is politics."What's holding back network capacity is huge costs.Yep, very important to push the ISPs to free up the bits. They would love to continue selling bandwidth through an eyedropper at very high prices. They need a push.Oh, and Microsoft will not like this...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- BookmarkAssistPro 1.2.6 (Windows)
- Save web links bookmarks directly to your local system's folders instead of grappling with your web browser's favorites manager. Open bookmarks directly from your system folders just like any other file instead of first having to go through your web browser's favorites manager. Maintain bookmarks without being tied to a...
- Software downloads 2009-11-19
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- Keep Up With The Latest In Document Management with The DocuMentor.
-
> Doc delivers the scoop on today's enterprise content management, printer maintenance, and all other issues related to document management. It's the DocuMentor Blog.
- Learn more >>
- New Online Dashboard for IT Leaders
-
Read about top issues IT decision-makers face every day, plus get cost-effective solutions to real-life IT problems.
- Learn more >>
- The best support in the Linux business
-
If Linux is going to power your mission-critical applications, you'd better have the best support known to business. Novell was rated the top provider of Linux technical support.
- Learn more >>
- The best support in the Linux business
-
If Linux is going to power your mission-critical applications, you'd better have the best support known to business. Novell was rated the top provider of Linux technical support.
- Learn more >>
SmartPlanet
- Thought-provoking progressive ideas on diverse topics that intersect with technology, business, and life, and matter to the world at large. Visit SmartPlanet
- More from IBM
-
- How to Drive Better Business Outcomes with Exceptional Web Experiences Download the eBook
- Driving Business Agility through SOA Connectivity & Integration Read the White Paper from IBM
- Linking Decisions and Information for Organizational Performance Read the Tom Davenport study
