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[[File:Safari 15.png|thumb|right|A web browser ([[Safari (web browser)|Safari]]) displaying a [[web page]]]]
A '''web browser''', often shortened to '''browser''', is an [[Application software|application]] for accessing [[
Browsers are used on a range of devices, including [[desktop computer|desktops]], [[laptop]]s, [[tablet computer|tablets]], [[smartphone]]s, [[smartwatch]]es and [[Video game console|consoles]]. {{As of
==Function==
[[File:Web browser demo.webm|thumb|Navigating to [[English Wikipedia]] using a web browser ([[Firefox]])]]
The purpose of a web browser is to fetch content and
Web pages usually contain [[hyperlink]]s to other pages and resources. Each link contains a URL, and when it is [[point and click|clicked]] or [[touchscreen|tapped]], the browser navigates to the new resource. Most browsers use an internal [[web cache|cache]] of web page resources to improve loading times for subsequent visits to the same page. The cache can store many items, such as large images, so they do not need to be downloaded from the server again. Cached items are usually only stored for as long as the web server stipulates in its HTTP response messages.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Nguyen |first1=Hoai Viet |last2=Lo Iacono |first2=Luigi |last3=Federrath |first3=Hannes |chapter=Systematic Analysis of Web Browser Caches |date=2018-10-03 |title=Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Web Studies |chapter-url=https://doi.org/10.1145/3240431.3240443 |series=WS.2 2018 |___location=New York, NY, USA |publisher=Association for Computing Machinery |pages=64–71 |doi=10.1145/3240431.3240443 |isbn=978-1-4503-6438-6}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mishra |first1=Vikas |last2=Laperdrix |first2=Pierre |last3=Rudametkin |first3=Walter |last4=Rouvoy |first4=Romain |date=2021-04-01 |title=Déjà vu: Abusing Browser Cache Headers to Identify and Track Online Users |url=https://petsymposium.org/popets/2021/popets-2021-0033.php |journal=Proceedings on Privacy Enhancing Technologies |language=en |volume=2021 |issue=2 |pages=391–406 |doi=10.2478/popets-2021-0033 |issn=2299-0984|hdl=20.500.12210/57495 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
A web browser is not the same thing as a [[search engine]], though the two are often confused.<ref>{{cite AV media
==History==
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[[Microsoft]] debuted [[Internet Explorer]] in 1995, leading to a [[browser war]] with Netscape. Within a few years, Microsoft gained a dominant position in the browser market for two reasons: it bundled Internet Explorer with its popular [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] [[operating system]] and did so as [[freeware]] with no restrictions on usage. The market share of Internet Explorer peaked at over 95% in the early 2000s.<ref name="searchenginejournal.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.searchenginejournal.com/mozilla-firefox-internet-browser-market-share-gains-to-74/1082/ |title=Mozilla Firefox Internet Browser Market Share Gains to 7.4% | first=Loren | last=Baker | work=Search Engine Journal |date=24 November 2004}}</ref> In 1998, Netscape launched what would become the [[Mozilla Foundation]] to create a new browser using the [[open-source software]] model. This work evolved into the [[Firefox]] browser, first released by Mozilla in 2004. Firefox's market share peaked at 32% in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Routley|first=Nick|date=20 January 2020|title=Internet Browser Market Share (1996–2019)|url=https://www.visualcapitalist.com/internet-browser-market-share/|access-date=4 November 2021|website=Visual Capitalist|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] released its [[Safari (web browser)|Safari]] browser in 2003; it remains the dominant browser on Apple devices, though it did not become popular elsewhere.<ref name="browsershare">{{cite web|title=StatCounter August 2011 data|url=http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-ww-monthly-201108-201108-bar|access-date=8 May 2021}}</ref>
[[Google]] debuted its [[Google Chrome|Chrome]] browser in 2008, which steadily took market share from Internet Explorer and became the most popular browser in 2012.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://digitaltrends-uploads-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2011/09/net-applications-browser-market.jpg | title=Internet Explorer usage to plummet below 50 percent by mid-2012 | work=[[Digital Trends]] | date=3 September 2011 | format=[[JPEG]] | access-date=8 May 2021 | archive-date=20 November 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120200340/http://www.digitaltrends.com/web/internet-explorer-usage-to-plummet-below-50-percent-by-mid-2012/attachment/net-applications-browser-market/ | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=StatCounter April-May 2012 data |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/#browser-ww-monthly-201204-201205 |access-date=8 May 2021}}</ref> Chrome has [[usage share of web browsers|remained dominant]] ever since.<ref name="statcounter" />
Since the early 2000s, browsers have greatly expanded their [[HTML]], [[CSS]], [[JavaScript]], and [[multimedia]] capabilities. One reason has been to enable more sophisticated websites, such as [[Web application|web apps]]. Another factor is the significant increase of [[broadband]] connectivity in [[List of sovereign states by number of broadband Internet subscriptions|many parts]] of the world, enabling people to access data-intensive content, such as [[Streaming media|streaming]] [[high-definition video|HD video]] on [[YouTube]], that was not possible during the era of [[Dial-up Internet access|dial-up modems]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Dial-Up Internet Today: Understanding Its Lasting Influence |url=https://simeononsecurity.com/articles/modem-magic_-how-dial-up-internet-works-and-its-legacy-today/ |website=SimeonOnSecurity |access-date=21 February 2024}}</ref>
Starting in the mid-2020s, browsers with integrated [[artificial intelligence]] (AI) capabilities, known as [[AI browser]]s, have become increasingly common. This includes both new entrants to the browser market and established browsers that added AI features, such as Chrome with the [[Gemini (chatbot)|Gemini]] [[chatbot]] and Edge with the [[Microsoft Copilot|Copilot]] chatbot.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Loic |first1=Lando |date=26 January 2024 |title=AI Browsers Are Here, and These Are the 5 Best Options |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/best-ai-browsers/ |website=Make Use Of |access-date=24 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Caswell |first1=Amanda |title=The rise of AI browsers is shaking up the web — here's why it matters |date=18 July 2025 |url=https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/the-rise-of-ai-browsers-is-shaking-up-the-web-heres-why-it-matters |website=Tom's Guide |access-date=24 July 2025}}</ref>
==Features==
The most popular browsers share many [[software feature|features]] in common. They automatically log users' [[Web browsing history|browsing history]], unless the users turn off their browsing history or use the non-logging [[Private browsing|private mode]]. They also allow users to set [[Bookmark (digital)|bookmarks]], customize the browser with [[Browser extension|extensions]], and [[Download manager
[[File:Chromium (web browser).png|thumb|right|220x220px|Traditional browser arrangement has [[user interface]] features above page content.]]
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* An address bar to input the [[URL]] of a page and display it, and a search bar to input [[web query|queries]] into a [[search engine]]. (In most browsers, the search bar is merged with the address bar.)
While [[mobile browser]]s have similar UI features as [[desktop computer|desktop]] versions, the limitations of the often-smaller [[touchscreen|touch screen]]s require mobile UIs to be simpler.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Simon |title=The Limitations Of Touch Interfaces |url=https://thisisglance.com/the-limitations-of-touch-interfaces/ |website=Glance |date=29 March 2019 |access-date=23 April 2021}}</ref> The difference is significant for users accustomed to [[keyboard shortcut]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chrome keyboard shortcuts |url=https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/157179 |publisher=Google Inc. |access-date=23 April 2021}}</ref> [[Responsive web design]] is used to create websites that offer a consistent experience across the desktop and mobile versions of the website and across varying screen sizes. The most popular desktop browsers also have sophisticated [[web development tools]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 June 2012 |title=Browsers are the new IDE for Web Development |url=https://devworks.thinkdigit.com/Software/Browsers-are-the-new-IDE-for-Web_9995.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702141638/http://devworks.thinkdigit.com/Software/Browsers-are-the-new-IDE-for-Web_9995.html |archive-date=2 July 2012 |website=devworks.thinkdigit.com}}</ref>
Access to some web content — particularly [[streaming media|streaming services]] like Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify — is restricted by [[Digital Rights Management]] (DRM) software. A web browser is able to access DRM-restricted content through the use of a [[Content Decryption Module]] (CDM) such as [[Widevine]]. As of 2020, the CDMs used by dominant web browsers require browser providers to pay costly license fees, making it unfeasible for most independent open-source browsers to offer access to DRM-restricted content.<ref>{{cite web | last=Doctorow | first=Cory | title=Three years after the W3C approved a DRM standard, it's no longer possible to make a functional indie browser | website=Boing Boing | date=2020-01-08 | url=https://boingboing.net/2020/01/08/rip-open-web-platform.html | access-date=2025-03-22}}</ref>
== Browser market ==
{{See also|Usage share of web browsers}}
[[Google Chrome]] has been the dominant browser since the mid-2010s and currently has a 66% global market share on all devices.<ref name="statcounter"/> The vast majority of its [[source code]] comes from Google's [[Open-source software|open-source]] [[Chromium (web browser)|Chromium]] project;<ref>{{cite web|url= https://blog.chromium.org/2008/09/welcome-to-chromium_02.html|title= Welcome to Chromium|author=((Google))|date=2 September 2008 |access-date=28 April 2021}}</ref> this code is also the basis for [[Chromium (web browser)#Browsers based on Chromium|many other]] browsers, including [[Microsoft Edge]], currently in third place with about a 5% share,<ref name="statcounter"/> as well as [[Samsung Internet]] and [[Opera (web browser)|Opera]] in fifth and sixth places respectively with approximately 2% market share each.<ref name="statcounter"/>
The other two browsers in the top four are made from different [[codebase]]s. [[Safari (web browser)|Safari]], based on [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]'s [[WebKit]] code, is the second most popular web browser and is dominant on Apple devices, resulting in an 18% global share.<ref name="statcounter"/> [[Firefox]], in fourth place, with about 3% market share,<ref name="statcounter"/> is based on [[Mozilla]]'s code. Both of these codebases are open-source, so a number of small niche browsers are also made from them.
The following table details the top web browsers by market share, as of February, 2025:
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|-
! Web browser !! Market share !! Reference
|-
| Chrome
| ~66%
| <ref name="statcounter" /><ref name="cloudflare" />
|-
| Safari
| ~16%
| <ref name="statcounter" /><ref name="cloudflare" />
|-
| Edge
| ~6%
| <ref name="statcounter" /><ref name="cloudflare" />
|-
| Firefox
| ~3%
| <ref name="statcounter" /><ref name="cloudflare" />
|-
| Samsung Internet
| ~2%
| <ref name="statcounter" /><ref name="cloudflare" />
|-
| Opera
| ~2%
| <ref name="statcounter" /><ref name="cloudflare" />
|-
| [[Brave (web browser)|Brave]]
| ~1%
| <ref name="cloudflare" />
|-
| [[Yandex Browser|Yandex]]
| less than 1%
| <ref name="statcounter" /><ref name="cloudflare" />
|-
| [[UC Browser]]
| less than 1%
| <ref name="statcounter" /><ref name="cloudflare" />
|-
| [[Huawei#Huawei Browser|Huawei Browser]]
| less than 1%
| <ref name="cloudflare" />
|-
| [[DuckDuckGo Private Browser]]
| less than 1%
| <ref name="cloudflare" />
|-
| [[QQ Browser]]
| less than 1%
| <ref name="cloudflare" />
|-
| [[Mi Browser]]
| less than 1%
| <ref name="cloudflare" />
|-
| [[Naver Whale]]
| less than 1%
| <ref name="cloudflare" />
|-
| [[Aloha Browser]]
| less than 1%
| <ref name="cloudflare" />
|-
| [[Avast Secure Browser]]
| less than 1%
| <ref name="cloudflare" />
|-
| [[Vivaldi (web browser)|Vivaldi]]
| less than 1%
| <ref name="cloudflare" />
|-
| [[AVG Technologies#AVG Secure Browser|AVG Secure Browser]]
| less than 1%
| <ref name="cloudflare" />
|-
| others
| less than 1%
| <ref name="cloudflare" />
|}
=== Market share by type of device ===
Prior to late 2016, the majority of web traffic came from desktop computers. However, [[Usage share of web browsers#Crossover to smartphones having majority share|since then]], mobile devices (smartphones) have represented the majority of web traffic.<ref name="StatCounterMobile2016">{{cite web |title=Desktop vs Mobile vs Tablet Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/platform-market-share/desktop-mobile-tablet/worldwide/2016 |website=StatCounter |access-date=23 March 2025}}</ref> As of February 2025, mobile devices represent a 62% share of Internet traffic, followed by desktop at 36% and tablet at 2%.<ref name="StatCounterDeviceUsageRecent">{{cite web |title=Desktop vs Mobile vs Tablet Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/platform-market-share/desktop-mobile-tablet/worldwide |website=StatCounter Global Stats |access-date=23 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
== Security ==
{{Main|Browser security}}
Web browsers are popular targets for [[hacker]]s, who exploit [[Vulnerability (computing)|security holes]] to steal information, destroy [[computer file|files]], and partake in other [[Malware|malicious]] activities. Browser vendors regularly patch these security holes, so users are strongly encouraged to keep their browser software updated. Other protection measures are [[antivirus software]] and being aware of [[Internet fraud|scams]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Simple Steps for Internet Safety |url=https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/simple-steps-for-internet-safety |website=fbi.gov |publisher=[[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] |access-date=21 February 2024}}</ref>
===Privacy===
{{Further|Web tracking}}
During the course of browsing, [[HTTP cookie|cookies]] received from various [[website]]s are stored by the browser. Some of them contain login credentials or site preferences.<ref name="tom's guide">{{cite web |title=Tracking Cookies: What They Are, and How They Threaten Your Privacy |date=16 September 2013 |url=https://www.tomsguide.com/us/-tracking-cookie-definition,news-17506.html |publisher=Tom's Guide |access-date=11 March 2019}}</ref> However, others are used for tracking user behavior over long periods of time, so browsers typically provide a section in the menu for deleting cookies.<ref name="tom's guide"/> Some browsers have more proactive protection against cookies and trackers that limit their functionality and ability to track user behaviour.<ref>{{cite web | title=Enhanced Tracking Protection in Firefox for desktop | website=Mozilla Support | date=2024-11-26 | url=https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enhanced-tracking-protection-firefox-desktop?as=u&utm_source=inproduct | ref={{sfnref|Mozilla Support|2024}} | access-date=2025-03-23}}</ref> Finer-grained management of cookies usually requires a [[browser extension]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Alternatives to Cookie AutoDelete extension |url=https://alternativeto.net/software/cookie-autodelete/ |publisher=AlternativeTo |access-date=11 March 2019}}</ref> [[telemetry (software)|Telemetry]] data is [[data collection|collected]] by most popular web browsers, which can usually be opted out of by the user.<ref>{{cite web | last=Wickramasinghe | first=Shanika | title=Telemetry 101: An Introduction To Telemetry | website=Splunk | date=2023-10-05 | url=https://www.splunk.com/en_us/blog/learn/what-is-telemetry.html | access-date=2025-03-23}}</ref>
==See also==
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* [[History of the World Wide Web]]
* [[Timeline of web browsers]]
* [[List of web browsers]]
==References==
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