A browser is a software application that allows the user to access and navigate the World Wide Web, view websites, and interact with online content. Browsers retrieve information from web servers and display it in a graphical user interface, enabling users to search, browse, and interact with various online resources.
Early web browsers included Mosaic, developed in 1993, and Netscape Navigator, released in 1994. These early browsers popularized the web and made it accessible to the general public.
Internet Explorer, released in 1995, came to dominate the market. During the early 2000s, open-source browsers like Firefox and Chrome were released and eventually overtook Internet Explorer in usage.
Modern browsers now include features like tabbed browsing, extensions, bookmarks, and autofill. They are highly standards-compliant and support technologies like HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript.
New browser features and technologies continue to emerge. Key areas of focus include speed, security, privacy, and support for new web capabilities.