Simply explained: what is a browser and how does it work?

It is no secret that you cannot get on the Internet without a browser, because this makes the graphic representation of the WWW possible in the first place. But how does the surfing software work and are there different types for different tasks? In this post we answer these and other interesting questions about browsers.

1. Definition: What is a browser and what is it used for?

A web browser, or browser for short, is a (usually free) software that you can use to display websites on the Internet. The term is derived from the English word «to browse», which translates as much as «browsing» or «leafing».

With a browser you make the content of the World Wide Web visible on a user -friendly surface and move around in it. For this purpose, cross -references (so -called «hyperlinks») are used, through which the different sides can be controlled using the software.

In addition to «normal» HTML pages, browsers can also open and display documents, for example in the form of images or PDF files. Rudimentary email management as well as downloads and file sharing are also possible with some programs.

Each browser also provides its own browser cacheby stored in the content that has already been downloaded. In this way, the loading time of the relevant page is enormously accelerated, since the individual elements are loaded from the hard drive instead of from the network when the call is recalled again.

In addition, modern browsers in the form of bookmark management offer even more comfort: If you really like a page, you can save it as favorites and call it up again at the next session with just one click.

The most important tasks of a browser summarize again:

• Request websites from the WWW, display and save their course
• Navigation through the hypertext
• Interpretation of source code
• Provision of the browser Cache
• Bookmark management

2. The functionality of a browser is simply explained

To display a website, you must simply enter the URL of the relevant page in the address line of the browser. This then takes over the contact with the web server on which the page to be stored is stored.

The web server then sends the requested data and the linked files (e.g. images) back to the browser. Communication takes place using HTTP protocol («Hypertext Transmission Protocol»).

Good to know: HTML documents are nothing more than source code that is dissolved by the browser line by line. It is important that the browser also interprets it as intended by the developer. For this purpose, special conventions for the award language that need to be observed were introduced.

3. Modern browsers are quite similar

In the meantime there is a variety of different browsers on the Internet, which are quite similar in their basic functionality. This is not infrequently presenting beginners with challenges, because how should you find out the right one for personal needs under all the programs? For many browsers, there are also significant version differences, as the developers implement new features and extensions with every update.

How good a browser is depends primarily on its skills in terms of parade discipline (namely displaying websites). However, there are some criteria that should meet every program:

• speed
• User -friendliness and simple, intuitive handling as possible
• Security
• stability
• Compatibility with different operating systems
• Number and usefulness of the features
• Help & support

In addition to the internet explorer successor Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera and Safari (for MacOS) are among the most common browsers. Tor has also established itself especially for excursions in the Darkwaub, which is a modified version of Firefox.

Good to know: A detailed test of the best browsers for Windows can be found in our browser comparison. In our article Alternative browser, we show interesting alternatives that, for example, work for better security.

4. Special forms of browsers

4.1. Reduced alternative: text -based browser

Despite all progress, there are still browsers today that can only represent simple text. These so -called «text -based browsers» are mainly used when things have to be done quickly, since graphics, pictures and the like do not have to be loaded at all. One of the best -known examples of this genus is the “Lynx” web browser.

4.2. Save data volume with offline browsers

Offline browser work, as the name suggests, without an internet connection. You only use local content and copies for displaying websites.

If the browser works as an offline browser, he copies the accessed websites in online operation onto the hard drive, where they can later be worked through in detail offline. Offline browser, especially with very low transmission rates or to reduce the connection costs for volume and time-based data contracts, prove to be very useful. However, note that you have to fall back on special tools for download for downloading complete websites.

5. Add-on, add-ins and plugins in times of OpenSource

With the introduction of open source tools like Firefox, the foundation for the development of browser extensions was also laid.

These are external programmed functions that you add to your browser in order to adapt and personalize it optimally for your claims.

The palette of possible features ranges from simple color schemes to new menu bars and tax buttons. Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are currently offering the largest offer of such extensions.

Good to know: In everyday use, the terms «plugin», «add-on» and «add-in» are often used as synonyms, but these are completely different types of extensions.

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