Types of Web Browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and More Explained

TYPES OF WEB BROWSER

Internet Explorer This is the most widely-used web browser by people around the world. It was developed by Microsoft in 1994 and released in 1995 as a supportive package to Microsoft Windows line of operating systems. It is presently known as Windows Internet Explorer, was formerly called Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE), and more is commonly known as IE. Mozilla Firefox It is owned by Mozilla Corporation and was the result of experimentation. This browser has gone through many name changes due to name clashes with other products. ‘Mozilla Firefox’ was officially announced in February 2004. It was earlier named Phoenix, Firebird, and eventually Firefox. It is the second-most famous browser after Internet Explorer. Safari This is a web browser from Apple, Inc., which is compatible with Mac OS X operating system, Microsoft Windows, and the iPhone OS. Safari was released by Apple in January 2003 as a public beta. Safari supports all the functions that are available in other web browsers. Opera The web browser was developed by Opera Software in 1996. It is a well-known browser that is mainly used in Internet-activated mobile phones, PDAs, and smart phones. Opera Mini and Opera Mobile are the browsers used in PDAs and smart phones. It is compatible with many operating systems such as Solaris, Linux, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows. Google Chrome This web browser was developed by Google. Its beta and commercial versions were released in September 2008 for Microsoft Windows. It has since become the fourth-most widely used web browser with a market share of 1.23%. The web browser versions for Mac OS X are under development. The browser options are very similar to that of Safari, the settings locations are similar to Internet Explorer 7, and the window design is based on Windows Vista. Netscape Navigator/Netscape It was developed by Netscape Communications Corporation and was most popular in the 1990s. It was compatible with almost every operating system. Since 2002, it has almost disappeared from the market due to strong competition from rivals like Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, etc. “Not sure how browsers work? Read our full guide on what a web browser is.”