What programs are browsers. What is an Internet browser: general concepts and operation of modern browsers for novice users and webmasters

Greetings to all readers of my blog, Roman Chueshov is in touch. For many years now, people have been accessing the Web without thinking at all about the programs they use. Do you know what an Internet browser is and how it works? That is what we will be talking about today. I recommend that you read the article to the end, where I will tell you why it is so important to install several browsers on your computer and be able to configure them correctly. So go ahead.

Web Browser as it is

Introducing the browser, I propose to start with its definition.

Web browser (another name) - special program, which allows you to view the sites hosted on the Web and the information contained on them.

It works like this:

  • the program sends an http request to get information;
  • the server provides access;
  • the program processes data according to approved standards;
  • the interpreted image of the code is displayed on the screen.

Browsers appeared at the time of the invention of the Internet and gradually flooded all electronic devices. Today, on every computer, tablet or smartphone, one of the web browsers will be installed by default.

History of the Web Browser

The very first Web Browser with a graphical interface was . But after the employees of this company moved to Netscape and started developing a new product, the development of Mosaic was discontinued. Luckily, the source code ended up in the hands of Microsoft. As a result, the world famous Internet Explorer.

Here, many may scream in surprise: why, then, did IE become so popular, and many have not even heard of Mosaic? The fact is that Microsoft made one very important and, as it turned out, very smart move - it included the browser in a mandatory update for the operating system (at that time it was Windows 95). So users simply had no choice - they used IE.

Internet Explorer quickly conquered the market (95% - almost the whole world), and the work of Netscape was over. At the same time, the developers, having closed the project, published the unfinished code under a free license, so that in the future they could use it to create .

In 1995, also appeared Opera. These two reviewers were forced to develop rapidly in order to win back the market a little, which they successfully did. And while Microsoft was inactive (indeed, why try when you are a monopolist ?!), Mazila and Opera became quite popular. A real battle for users began, which pushed the market to create a completely new product - .

Modern Web Browsers

If you understand the concept of Web Browser, you can move on to choosing a program that will meet all the requirements. A few names have already flashed a little higher - most of them are still afloat.

So, the most popular are:

  • Opera;
  • Internet Explorer;
  • Apple Safari;
  • Yandex browser.

Google Chrome is by far the most popular browser. It was created on the basis of Chromium and runs on the WebKit engine (Webkit). In just a few years, the browser was able to win 25% of the market.

And he did this due to simplicity, functionality and page loading speed, as well as the presence of various extensions. Note that Yandex, being the main competitor of Google, recently also introduced its own version of the program. The question is, will users want to download it? I think they do.)

Mozilla Firefox is popular in Russia, as well as Germany and Poland. However, it is gradually losing its positions and may soon slide down to the level of Opera. As for the latter, it was used mainly for mobile devices, and now it has completely sunk into oblivion. The same thing happens with IE, which is used in extremely rare cases.

Special mention should be made of Safari, which was developed specifically for Apple products. Included in the list of pre-installed programs on Mac OS X and iOS.

But Phoenix and Amigo are browsers that users are rather fed up with. They are free and are installed automatically when you visit some sites. More like a virus that you want to remove from your computer as quickly as possible.

Remember that you have to work with sites, so it is very important to take care of the correct display of the web resource in each browser. Because we will also be engaged in the layout of the site, i.e. convert the drawn blog layout in Photoshop, by tagging, into a visual display in the browser.

Today, users use different browsers, so the same display of information (website) in them is very important.

I have all the most common browsers installed on my computer: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Internet Explorer, Apple Safari for windows, Yandex Browser. You can download them all for free on the Internet on official sites.

That's all for now. Install browsers on your PC and continue reading articles from this section, and you will learn how to properly configure them for fast and smooth work.

Sincerely, Roman Chueshov

Since you are reading this article, then you, like many others, are interested in the question, what is a browser? No matter how strange it may sound, but you actually already know the answer to it, you just probably don’t guess yet. I'll try to explain. In short, then browser is a program for browsing the Internet. That is, in order to read the information on this page, at least you had to launch the browser by clicking on its shortcut on the desktop or elsewhere on your computer, type in the search engine (Yandex, Google and others) the query " what is a browser” or any other similar one, find my site in the search results and go to it. 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 of your steps led you to what you were looking for, in this case, this page on my site that you are currently viewing. Now let's go back to the definition of a browser: a web browser. And, if I understand correctly, that's what you're doing right now. You see, you are already using the browser for its intended purpose. Naturally, it has other functions, the main of which we will now analyze.

Basic browser features

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

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

As a home page, it is recommended to set the one that you visit most often, from which you would like to start your daily work on the Internet. It's very easy to change it. To do this, just click on the inscription "Firefox" in the upper left corner and enter the 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. How to change the home page and what it is, figured out. Let's move on.

Since we are talking about site addresses, let's stop at 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 site address very often begins with "www", but this part can be omitted. Further, through the dot is the name of the site, for example, the same favorite "yandex". We put one more point 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 at its address, just enter it in address bar your browser.

For faster access to your favorite sites were invented bookmarks. It is enough to click on the star icon to the right of the address bar or press the key combination Ctrl + D, as a window appears in which you need to drive in the name of the bookmark, select the folder you need 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.

For easier site navigation, there are tabs. If you want to have several Internet pages open at the same time, be sure to use the tabs. To open a new tab, click on the plus sign (circled in red).

Most often the Internet is used for information search. It is naturally 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 the request, specify exactly what you want to find. For example, if you live in Moscow and want to buy a car, write in the search box car sales in moscow.

Browser types

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 have survived to this day. IE is part of Windows, which is probably why it has gained popularity in the world. Perhaps this is its main advantage. Despite the fact that Microsoft specialists are involved in its development, Internet Explorer lags behind other browsers in many ways, it often displays sites incorrectly, does not support many modern standards, and its speed is not happy, although it has noticeably increased in new versions of the program.

Opera is a very old browser, it has a lot of various settings, functions and extensions, it is very fast. This browser, in my opinion, will be somewhat difficult for beginners, but if you understand it, then it can be safely made the main one for work and entertainment. Personally, I did not use it much, but I noticed several negative points. Firstly, it renders some sites a bit incorrectly, most often the problem is an increase in font size. I think this error will be fixed in new versions. Secondly, when I first launched Opera, for some reason, it did not import bookmarks, passwords, history, and other data from my other browsers. I still found this function, but the path to the profile with data had to be specified manually. In my opinion, this is somewhat inconvenient. Maybe I did something wrong, I do not deny this moment, but the fact remains. Yandex Browser, for example, coped with this task in no time. Thirdly, there was a case when I opened just one page, while neither the browser nor the computer was restarted by anything, after which Opera hung for about half a minute, or 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 plug-ins that are easy to install and update. Firefox also has disadvantages: sometimes the browser freezes for a while, sometimes even for several minutes, after which its work may stop altogether, referring to 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 each 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 by itself and then appears itself, while I do nothing. 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 managed to gain popularity around the world. Google Chrome can be summed up in three words: fast, simple, and convenient. Despite its visual simplicity, the browser has all the necessary features and supports all modern standards. It will be mastered in a matter of minutes even by a beginner. The 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 rather cumbersome. If my memory serves me, then for the first time in Chrome, the tabs moved under the address bar, and the menu was completely different.

- 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, then the browser may go far beyond the borders of our country, although it is hard to believe in this, we'll wait and see. It combines all the advantages of modern browsers, and also has its own individual features. For example, only in this browser I saw that the titles of Internet pages are displayed not only in the tab, but also in the address bar. In terms of its appearance and interface, Yandex Browser is very much like 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 proved to be in my case. Separately, it is worth mentioning the Yandex Browser security system, which was developed by Kaspersky Lab, as well as Turbo technology, which speeds up site loading, which was created by Opera and will appear in the next versions of the program. I myself have not tested and verified these developments, since I have neither the opportunity nor the desire.

Apple's browser could also be included in the list, 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 very high quality and beautiful, like any other product from Apple. If you wish, 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 fully objectively answer the question of which browser is better. This is most likely a matter of taste. For example, I do not 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 know, My choice currently 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. At times, absolutely every browser is buggy, like any other program. Some, of course, have fewer glitches, some more, but everyone has them. Any browser can freeze and crash, you can't get away 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, sheer minimalism. You will not need to scour the wilds of the menu to find this or that function, everything is on the surface. But despite their outward 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 feature becomes available only after installing additional plugins.

Perhaps, objectively, well, or almost objectively, I can only speak about Internet Explorer. It is this browser that most often incorrectly displays sites, I also heard that its security system is lame. Despite being the oldest browser on this list, IE has only recently had to catch up with its younger competitors, and it's far from being the best at it.

When choosing a browser, you can also look at popularity ratings, but I do not advise you to rely on them. Each person must choose for himself what he likes. For example, there are still a lot of users in the world who prefer IE, but, in my opinion, this is only because it is installed on a computer with Windows. Most people do not like to change anything and look for the best, but use what they already have. I used to use Internet Explorer too, but that was a long time ago. At that time I was not such an active Internet user as I am now, I didn’t know all the subtleties, I thought that sites should be displayed exactly as in Explorer, I just didn’t know better. If something moved down on any site or was too large or, conversely, 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 is not necessary, since it is constantly changing and it definitely won’t help to make the right choice.

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

  • Convenience - with this item, each user must decide for himself. To do this, download a browser, work on it for a few hours, and if you feel any inconvenience or something you don't like, 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 it will not take long to test.
  • Functionality- by and large, all of the above browsers have sufficient functionality for almost any Internet user. If this or that function is missing, you can always download and install an add-on or plugin.
  • Speed ​​- I personally did not check the speed of a particular browser with any services, let alone stopwatches. I can say that latest versions each of them work pretty fast. Somewhere I saw the results of a study, according to which Chrome loads web pages the fastest, and displays the visible part of the page on the Firefox screen. How true this is, I don't know. I do not think that Yandex Browser or Opera are far behind them in this indicator.
  • Correct display of sites- it would seem, well, why not update the developers of their browsers and make them correctly display the sites. Imagine how cool it would be if in all browsers each site looked exactly the same, how many problems would be less for layout designers (specialists who “pull” the design onto the site), but no, developers cannot yet bring their browsers up to perfection, sorry. I want to note right away that such browsers as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Yandex Browser display sites as correctly as possible. Opera also supports almost all modern standards, but still there are times when it does not correctly display this or that style. Recently, it was because of her that I had to redo the font sizes on one of my sites, as 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 still I will say: this is one of the most backward browsers in terms of the correct display of sites. He is very bad friends with shadows and other effects. Very often, a separate style file is written specifically for IE so that it somehow copes with its task.
  • Security - to be honest, I did not check this item in any special ways. I know that Chrome and Firefox have everything with this, it seems to be in order, you can also place big bets 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 programs on your computers, and everything will be in order.

In the matter of choosing a browser, in no case completely do not trust anyone's opinion. What others think comfortable and ideal, you may absolutely not like and vice versa. The most important thing in the browser for ordinary Internet users, in my opinion, convenience. If you are satisfied with the work of the browser, its interface is pleasant and it is simply convenient to use it, 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 even then make the final choice. Especially 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 look at Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, Yandex Browser also showed itself 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 in the comments.

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Novice Internet users ask what a browser is, how it works, and which program is better to give preference to for PC and phone. Other questions arise regarding the use of the software and its installation by default. Below we will analyze in detail all the points that interest beginners.

What is a browser?

So, first of all, let's look at the meaning of the word. So what is a browser? If to speak in simple words, a browser is a program designed to download and view pages, download files, manage applications, and perform other tasks. The first such software appeared 26 years ago in 1993. Its name is NCSA Mosaic. The creators of the browser were E. Bina and M. Anderssen, who developed a program for Windows. A feature of the software was open source code, which was later used to create more modern software - Netscape Navigator.

Considering what a browser is and why it is for you, one more thing should be noted. This is a special web interface, designed, as a rule, for surfing the Internet. This software is distributed free of charge. It may be supplied as a standalone unit or as an add-on to other elements of the software. For example, Internet Explorer comes with Windows, Safari with Mac OS X, and Google Chrome, Opera and other software as separate software.

Analyzing what a browser is on a computer, you can simply say - this is what you are now reading this text on the Internet in. At the request of the user, the browser submits a request to the web server, from where the response comes and the transfer of the desired page. After processing the information, the web browser provides information to the user in a convenient form.

In general, as you understand, in the realities of the 21st century, it is simply impossible to do without a Web browser. But let's say you already have it, what to do with it?

What is a browser for?

Above, we partially considered what a web browser is and what it is for. At the present stage, the program is used on the Internet and allows you to solve the following tasks:

  1. reading text information;
  2. downloading files;
  3. sharing data with other users;
  4. viewing pictures and videos;
  5. listening to audio files and so on.

Depending on the functionality, the browser may provide additional features, for example, accessing sites via VPN, setting individual settings, etc.

Overview of popular browsers

Now let's look at what browsers are available for PCs and phones. Note that the names of web browsers may overlap. This is due to the fact that almost all manufacturers make software for computers and smartphones in order to cover the maximum market share.

For PC

If we select browsers for computers, for 2019 there are five programs in the category of the best. Let's consider them in more detail. Please note that below are the most popular ones. But if suddenly your PC does not pull them, you will need to pick up

Yandex

Yandex is a fast and convenient web browser that has many additional applications (traffic, weather, music, mail, etc.). It has a nice interface, easy to manage, supports extensions from other browsers (Opera, Chrome). When creating, the greatest attention was paid to safety. The program quickly detects and blocks suspicious sites. There is a turbo mode for loading, a smart line with useful information.

Cons - periodically there are problems with the transfer of history, the lack of benefit for people who do not use Yandex services.

Google Chrome

When considering what browsers are, one of the the best programs- Google Chrome. It has a high connection speed with pages, a simple but understandable design, a lot of applications. Here, for the first time, the search bar and address entry for the site are combined. Today, many developers have adopted this idea. It is based on the WebKit engine that was used to create Safari. Security was a key focus during development. Users are protected from phishing, viruses and other online dangers.

Pros - a separate service panel, fast with other devices, availability, high download speed, monitoring of used resources, the ability to.

Cons - high requirements for RAM (from 2 GB or more), fast discharge of laptops, lack of Russian in many applications.

Mozilla Firefox

This web explorer is deservedly in the top three, thanks to many useful extensions, automatic ad blocking and other "chips". Here you can quickly create screenshots, there is a built-in reader and a level of security is guaranteed. The control panel is convenient and functional, with support for WASM and WebVR. All updates are installed automatically. You can change the menu settings as you like.

Pros - convenience for web developers, the ability to customize the appearance "for yourself", a convenient reader for documents, reliability.

Cons - slower speed compared to competitors, periodic failures in opening pages, large RAM requirements.

Opera

It's no secret that the browser is primarily a surfing tool. In this regard, the Opera does a good job. It has been on the market for a long time (since 1994), uses the same technology as Chrome. Users have access to a turbo mode for faster downloads, a built-in VPN, a convenient access panel, and even voice control. You can watch video content in pop-up windows.

Pros - built-in VPN, widget support, a large selection of hot combinations, versatility.

Cons - less reliability, high system requirements, periodic problems when interacting with WML.

Internet Explorer

The Internet Explorer browser was once a leader, but today it has lost its position. This program is built into Windows and is installed by default. After the update, the speed of work has increased, the interface has been simplified, the necessary programs are supported for the correct display of information. In version 11, a privacy mode appeared,

Pros - no installation required smartscreen filter, combining the address bar with search, speeding up pages.

Cons - small functionality, poor choice of extensions, simple design.

Other developments can be added to the list already considered - Uran, Mawthon, Safari, etc.

For smartphones

Many users are more interested in the question of what is an Internet browser in the phone. In terms of functionality and purpose, this is the same program as for a PC. The difference is that the application is written for the OS for phones - Android, iOS, and so on. Therefore, working in the browser is only available from a mobile device.

The list of the best browsers for smartphones has a different look:

  • Dolphin is an app developed by MoboTap for Android and iOS smartphones. Features - great functionality, fast synchronization, gesture viewing, work with a flash player and much more. The Internet browser has a clear interface, fast download speed and incognito mode. Of the shortcomings - the lack of a mobile version.

  • Firefox is a web explorer for smartphones that supports sync, HTML5 and allows you to use multiple panes at the same time. With Firefox, you can send content to TV and be sure that you are protected from viruses. Quick links to a number of social networks. The main drawback is sensitivity to heavy pages that may open unevenly.

  • Google Chrome is a convenient and fast mobile browser with over 1 million users. Its features are HTML5 support, fast synchronization, the option to save data, no restrictions on the number of tabs, and a high level of security. Of the minuses - the lack of a large number of add-ons.

  • Opera mini. At one time, this browser gained popularity due to the fast loading of even heavy pages. Today it is one of the lightest and fastest web explorers with integrated security, fast data saving, night mode and news saving function. The weak point is the limited add-ons.

  • Browse Faster is a great solution for users who are looking for a fast smartphone browser. Its feature is the ability to remove ads, a high level of privacy, fast and secure browsing. The app is battery efficient, has privacy plugins, and even a password manager add-on. The downside is that there is no integration with Google.

Today, every user knows the benefits of a browser and why it is needed in the phone. This is not surprising, because surfing from a PC is gradually moving to mobile devices. This fact is confirmed by the activity of manufacturers who are increasingly focused on creating programs for smartphones. Users can only choose or iPhone. As for the above list, it can be supplemented with other programs - UC Browser, Maxthon5 Browser, etc.

How to choose a browser?

Now you know what browsers are, what it is in simple words, and how it is used. The difficulty is that in the variety of programs it is difficult to navigate and choose a worthwhile option. In order not to make a mistake with the choice, it is recommended to follow the following criteria:

  1. Popularity. For 2019, Google Chrome is considered one of the leaders. Other browsers are not far behind, such as Safari, Mozilla Firefox. At the same time, Chrome has shown positive growth dynamics over the past three years. According to statistics, browsers that are in demand among users are more in demand and retain positions longer. It is difficult for new web applications to find their place in the market among the incumbent giants.
  2. Reliability. An equally important criterion is reliability, because a lot of unforeseen risks await the user on the Internet. It is important that the browser works stably and does not close due to a crash in any page. Today, major web explorer developers have changed how programs work, making them more reliable. In the event of a crash, Web Explorer restores all tabs.
  3. Convenience. This criterion is individual for each person. Some users scold Mozilla and IE, while others like them. If you look from the position of universality, one of the leaders is Google Chrome, where all the controls are well thought out.
  4. Safety. Working on the Internet, a person is not protected from the actions of hackers who can steal confidential or other important information. Of course, some of the problems are taken care of by the antivirus and the firewall, but the browser should also act as one of the elements of defense. Today, all manufacturers pay maximum attention to this aspect, but Yandex and Google do it best.
  5. Speed. In the developing world, web users rely on fast page loading speeds. Frequent freezes are annoying and make you look for other browser options. The most nimble include Google Chrome, Yandex and Opera.
  6. Capabilities. Modern browsers are becoming more than just a shell for browsing. This is a "multimedia center" that replaces the mailbox, TV, player and more. From this position, the leading positions are for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

When choosing a web explorer, you need to consider that the browser is primarily an assistant when working on the Web. That is why reliability, safety and speed of work remain the main criteria.

Default browser: what is it and how to set it?

When working with a file, you see a link and click it to view the information. Immediately after that, the browser that is set by default opens. In the Windows operating system, this is almost always Internet Explorer, but the user can make changes and install the web explorer that suits him best. The question arises why it is needed. The option is set in order not to make a choice each time to launch any page or file for viewing using such software.

Consider how to set the default browser for different options:

  1. Internet Explorer. Enter the program, go to the Tools tab (at the top or bottom in the form of a gear), and then select Internet Options. Next, click on the Programs tab and select the Set as default section. Confirm your action at the final step.
  2. Opera. Enter the browser, click on the button with the red letter "O" and select Settings. Next, click on the button to use Opera by default. In earlier versions, after going to Settings, you need to enter General settings, and then Advanced. Here, find the inscription Programs and check the box next to the box offering to check that the Opera browser is installed by default. Now save and try to enter the program. A question will appear whether to use the default program or not. Here the answer must be positive.
  3. Mozilla Firefox. Open the program, click on the button with horizontal lines on the right and enter Settings. There, go to the Advanced and General section. Click on the link Make Firefox the default browser and agree with the given command.
  4. Google Chrome. Enter the web explorer, click on the three dots on the right, enter Settings and set the program as the default browser.
  5. Yandex. Enter the software, click on the three lines in the upper right, enter the Settings. Next, go to the Settings tab and go down to the very bottom, where you can set the mode of interest.

After completing the above steps, the browser of interest will always open by default.

Where can I find a browser?

Now consider the location of the browser, where it is located in a computer or phone. With regard to a PC, after loading the Windows operating system, the IE browser can be seen on the desktop. Alternative options - go to the Start menu and find the program in the program list. Alternatively, find it on your desktop. In the phone, the browser after installation will be available from the desktop or the applications section.

How to use?

For dummies, it is very important not only to find and install a browser, but also to figure out how to use it. Each web explorer has an individual appearance and features. Let's take a quick look at each option:

  1. Opera. At the top left are the navigation buttons, then the address bar, and after it the search engine graph. When you click on the "plus", a new tab is added through which you can enter a new page. Thanks to the navigation buttons, you can move forward and backward, as well as refresh the page. There is a convenient zoom control on the bottom right.
  2. Mozilla Firefox. Here the situation is very similar. A menu bar is provided in the upper part, below it there are tabs, and even lower on the left and right are the address entry and search windows, respectively. On the left, next to the address entry line, are the navigation buttons. At the bottom there is a panel of add-ons. Tabs are also opened by clicking on the "plus".
  3. Internet Explorer. Here the situation is similar with Mozilla. The difference is that at the very top are the address entry lines and the search column below the menu. Under it there was a place for tabs. At the bottom right there is a status bar and the ability to zoom in on the page.
  4. Google Chrome. There are tabs at the top. Below you can find a column that combines the input address and search string. To the left of it are the control buttons. On the right - a place for applications and three dots (entrance to the menu).

It is important to consider that developers are constantly optimizing their products and releasing new versions of browsers. As a result, much can change, but the principle of management itself remains constant. At the same time, everything is done so that every beginner can quickly figure it out and start surfing the Web.

Have a great day!

For those who continue to comprehend the Internet and what is connected with it, today we will talk about what a browser is, what it is for, and also conduct a small analysis of the most popular Internet browsers today.

What is a browser and what functions does it perform

Browser (WEB-browser) is a program that provides browsing Internet sites on computer devices and gadgets. The essence of the browser is to process the user's request and download the site requested by him. Now let's briefly consider what functions the browser performs.

As mentioned above, the main function of the browser is to open web pages of sites. The web pages themselves consist of code that the browser actually receives from the server on which the site is located. The browser processes this code, and you see a “finished picture” on your monitor. In order to see what the site actually is - right-click, for example, somewhere in the side of the site and select the item in the context menu that appears "View source code" (or "Page source code", or that similar). The correct source code is very important for the browser, since the adequate display of the pages of the site and the performance of its functions depend on it.

Browsers allow you to save your passwords from sites so that each time you access your account on a particular resource, you do not need to re-enter your username and password. All browsers also store a history of your visits to various sites, so that if necessary, you can find the site you previously visited. Well, the last thing worth noting from the main functionality of the browser is the ability to store sites in bookmarks for their memorization and quick access.

In addition to opening the web pages themselves, browsers allow you to download files from sites, that is, the browser downloads them. It can be programs, games, music and other files.

Modern browsers in the vast majority support various add-ons. These add-ons may include: extensions of browser functions, informers from various resources, as well as additions in the form of visual themes for the browser itself. Let's consider them in more detail:

  • Extensions. Vivid examples of browser extensions are extensions from anti-virus programs: an anti-banner and a link checking module that protect users from intrusive advertising, and also check dangerous links and sites.

  • Informers. Informers are also made in the form of extensions. As the name implies, "informers" - inform. The most popular informers are weather informers, informers about the arrival of new mail, messages, etc.

  • Visual themes. Visual themes allow you to change the design of the browser: tabs, buttons, background images and other elements.

It is worth noting that an unlimited number of browsers can be installed on a computer, while one of them must be the main one - the default browser. The default browser is the browser that is set as the main one in the operating system; all links and services that you access from other programs will open through it.

Now let's look at the most popular browsers today.

What are the browsers?

The total number of browsers today is very difficult to count. Below we want to take a look at the top five browsers that most Internet users use.


Internet Explorer browser

Internet Explorer is the standard browser that comes with the operating system. Windows system. That is, you will immediately be able to access the Internet through Internet Explorer. We called Internet Explorer the first not because it is the most popular or the best, but because initially everyone uses it, at least to download another browser. By the way, there is a joke on many computer Internet resources: “Internet Explorer is the program with which you can download a good browser.”

Yes, there is some truth in every joke, and as you understand, this joke appeared for a reason. The fact is that Internet Explorer (IE) in our opinion is not the best browser option. Firstly, it is very slow and its slowness lies not only in the work of the program itself, but also in opening pages. Secondly, the IE web pages themselves open incorrectly, as they say in the common people - "crooked". In addition, Internet Explorer is a very non-functional browser, and most importantly, its updated versions do not carry anything radically new and do not even have a hint of it. IE does not have support for extension integration and does not support visual themes, which makes it rather marginal today.

The Internet Explorer browser is mainly used by beginners who do not know, do not understand or do not really understand the concept of what a browser is and what other browsers there are besides IE. In most cases, those users who have tried other browsers never use Internet Explorer again, which is why we recommend installing another, or rather a good browser.

Internet Explorer does not require installation as it is integrated into operating system Windows.


Google Chrome browser

The most popular browser in the former USSR is a browser called Google Chrome (Russian). Chrome is a browser from Google, which is not only a popular browser, but also probably the best. By the way, Chrome is a rather young browser, but at the same time it has won a large army of fans over the course of several years of its existence.

Probably, the very first advantage of this browser is its “lightness”, which consists in fast work, both of the program itself and in the quick opening of website pages. This WEB-browser is well thought out, so it is very convenient to use. A large number of functions is also a strong point of the Google Chrome browser. Let's take a look at the functional features of Chrome separately.

In our opinion, the most important functional advantage of Google Chrome is the synchronization of passwords and bookmarks in the browser with the Google server, thanks to which, by entering your login and password, you will get access to your bookmarks and passwords after reinstalling the system or on your other gadgets. This is very convenient, because, for example, when reinstalling the system, it is not so difficult to reinstall it, as it is difficult to remember all your visited sites and passwords to them. And with Chrome, you just need to log in to Google system, and all your bookmarks and passwords will be restored. Also, from the functional features of Chrome, it is worth noting the ability to install extensions and change the design style, which there are a large number in the Chrome Web Store, and for free. Well, the last thing to mention is the smart address bar, that is, in the address bar (in the field where you enter the site address), you can also enter search queries - this is universal and convenient.

In order to download the Chrome browser on your computer, go to: "google.com/intl/en/chrome".


Mozilla Firefox Browser

The next browser we would like to consider is Mozilla Firefox. The Mozilla Firefox browser has been around for about 10 years and is one of the old-timers among web browsers. Mozilla Firefox is mainly used by webmasters and advanced users due to its correct and correct display of site pages.

Of the functional features of Mazila (eng. Mozilla), it is worth highlighting the presence of a huge number of plugins (extensions), the number of which largely exceeds the range of extensions in Chrome. In addition, Mazila Firefox has the ability to change the visual style of the browser, which should also be attributed to the advantages.

Despite all this, Mozilla Firefox is quite a "heavy" browser. It, compared to other browsers, takes a little longer to start, and sometimes freezes and slows down, even on a fairly powerful computer. If we compare Mozilla Firefox with the aforementioned Chrome, then the disadvantage of the first is the lack of synchronization of bookmarks and passwords. Therefore, if there is no special need to use Mazila, then it is better not to use it as the main browser.

You can download the Mozilla Firefox browser from the browser's official website: "mozilla-russia.org".


Opera Browser

The Opera browser is an aksakal among browsers that has existed for almost 20 years. The Opera browser is quite light and convenient. Of the functional features, support for widgets and plugins can be distinguished, but they have not received wide application. It is worth noting the Turbo function, which allows you to load pages faster with a slow Internet connection or to save traffic by compressing it, but, as a rule, today this function is relevant for laptop owners with limited 3G Internet tariffs.

Analyzing the Opera browser, nothing bad can be said about it, but it is also difficult to single out something good. In our opinion, Opera lacks a certain charisma that would distinguish it from the above browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.

You can download the Opera browser from its main page: "opera.com/ru".


And finally, it should be said about the fifth browser, which, in our opinion, deserves its place in our top five. Yandex.Browser is the last one on our list, but not the last one. Although Internet Explorer is the first mentioned, it is far from the leader, and perhaps even an outsider of our list of top browsers.

As for the Yandex browser, this is the youngest browser developed by Yandex. This browser has only existed for about a year, but despite its novelty, it is quickly gaining its audience. Probably Yandex(-y) wanted something more serious than obsessively integrating their Yandex.Bar (an add-on with their services) into other browsers, so the company's developers decided to create their own full-fledged browser. It is somewhat difficult to call Yandex.Browser “our own”, since it is the same Chrome, with a slightly redesigned design and with some additionally implemented functions. One of these additional features is the Turbo function, which was borrowed from the Opera browser. Let's analyze Yandex.Browser in more detail.

The Yandex browser is made on the same engine as Chrome, so they have a similar appearance and similar functionality. New versions of Yandex.Browser now offer the ability to synchronize your passwords and bookmarks with the Yandex server. The Yandex browser also allows you to install extensions, but they must be installed manually, since Yandex does not have its own store for downloading add-ons. It is worth noting that it is possible to set a background image, but, unfortunately, there is no possibility to change the background of the navigation bar in the browser. But there is a convenient "Scoreboard" - a panel with site icons for quickly opening them, which is very original and convenient. You can also note the possibility of searching for a query in different search engines from the "smart line" of this browser by selecting the desired search engine below.

Summing up, we can say with confidence that Yandex.Browser is the same Chrome, but more focused on Russian-speaking users living in the CIS. If you decide to remove Yandex.Browser, then .

To download the browser from Yandex, go to its official page: "browser.yandex.ru".

Which browser to choose?

It would be wrong to give an unambiguous and categorical answer to the question: which browser to choose. Each browser has its own advantages and disadvantages, as well as its own features, so for each user, "their" browser is the best. For example, someone prefers Chrome browser for its simplicity, integration of passwords and bookmarks with Google, and someone - Mozilla Firefox for its huge number of different add-ons. Despite the fact that the browsers are all the same in structure, they have their own visual differences, which significantly distinguishes them from each other. In order to determine which browser to choose, and which one is best for you, you need to try them all to make your own decision.
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