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Module 006: Web Browsers: What Is The World Wide Web (WWW) ?

This document discusses web browsers. It begins by outlining the learning objectives which are to define a web browser, outline the history of web browsers, and discuss their uses and functions. It then provides definitions of a web browser and the world wide web. The document outlines the timeline of major web browsers from 1990 to 2015. It describes the basic functions, features, components, and user interface of web browsers. Popular modern web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, Edge, and Opera are highlighted. Screenshots of the interfaces of Chrome, Firefox and Safari are provided.

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Jesse Jaucian
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681 views8 pages

Module 006: Web Browsers: What Is The World Wide Web (WWW) ?

This document discusses web browsers. It begins by outlining the learning objectives which are to define a web browser, outline the history of web browsers, and discuss their uses and functions. It then provides definitions of a web browser and the world wide web. The document outlines the timeline of major web browsers from 1990 to 2015. It describes the basic functions, features, components, and user interface of web browsers. Popular modern web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, Edge, and Opera are highlighted. Screenshots of the interfaces of Chrome, Firefox and Safari are provided.

Uploaded by

Jesse Jaucian
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MIS-6112 / Introduction to the World Wide Web

1
[Week 6: Web Browsers]

Module 006: Web Browsers

In this module, we are going to discuss the fundamentals of a Web Browsers

After completing this chapter you will be able to:


1. To define the Web Browser
2. To outline the history timeline of the Web Browser
3. To discuss the uses and functions of a Web Browser

What is the World Wide Web (WWW)?


It is application software that allows users to access and view Web pages.”

A browser is a software application used to locate, retrieve and display content on


the World Wide Web, including webpages, images, video and other files. As a
client/server model, the browser is the client run on a computer or mobile device that
contacts the Web server and requests information. The web server sends the
information back to the browser which displays the results on the Internet-enabled
device that supports a browser.

Figure 1: Different Web Browsers


Image grab from: https://www.digit.in/features/mobile-phones/tips-and-tricks-to-enhance-your-browsing-
experience-on-android-smartphone-32568.html

Browsers Timeline
There’s an entire history of web browsers. Before the web browsers we knew
today, there were the first browsers, which are no longer in use or have highly
evolved.

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1990 – The WorldWideWeb (not to be confused with the World Wide Web)
was the first browser ever created by W3C Director Tim Berners-Lee, then
renamed Nexus to differentiate from the actual World Wide Web. Unlike
today, this was the only browser and the only way to access the web.
1992 – Lynx was a texted-based browser that couldn’t display any graphic
content.
1993 – Mosaic was the first browser to allow images embedded in text
making it “the world’s first most popular browser”.
1994 – A noticeable improvement to Mosaic came Netscape Navigator.
1995 – Internet Explorer made its debut as Microsoft’s first web browser.
1996 – Opera started as a research project in 1994 that finally went public
two years later. This was also arguably the beginning of the browser wars,
mainly between IE 3 and Navigator 3 as Internet Explorer inched ahead with
new capabilities.
2003 – Apple’s Safari browser was released specifically for Macintosh
computers instead of Navigator.
2004 – Mozilla launched Firefox as Netscape Navigator faded out.
2007 – Mobile Safari was introduced as Apple’s mobile web browser and
continues to dominate the iOS market.
2008 – Google Chrome appeared to soon take over the browser market.
2011 – Opera Mini was released to focus on the fast-growing mobile browser
market.
2015 – Microsoft Edge was born to combat Google.

Properties of the Browser


Functions of a Browser
The primary purpose of a web browser is to bring information resources to
the user, allowing them to view the information, and then access other
information.
This process begins when the user inputs a URL, for example
http://en.wikipedia.org/, into the browser. The prefix of the URL, determines
how the URL will be interpreted. The most commonly used kind of URL starts
with http: and identifies a resource to be retrieved over the HTTP.

Information resources may contain hyperlinks to other information


resources. Each link contains the URI of a resource to go to. When a link is
clicked, the browser navigates to the resource indicated by the link's target
URI, and the process of bringing content to the user begins again.

Features of a Web Browsers


MIS-6112 / Introduction to the World Wide Web
3
[Week 6: Web Browsers]

• Privacy and security Most browsers support HTTP Secure and offer quick
and easy ways to delete the web cache, cookies, and browsing history.
• Standards support Early web browsers supported only a very simple version
of HTML. The rapid development of proprietary web browsers led to the
development of non-standard dialects of HTML, leading to problems with
interoperability.
• Extensibility A browser extension is a computer program that extends the
functionality of a web browser. Every major web browser supports the
development of browser extensions.

Components of a Browser
Components of a Web browser consist of the following:
• user interface
• layout engine
• rendering engine
• JavaScript interpreter
• UI backend
• networking component
• data persistence component.

These components achieve different functionalities of a web browser and together


provide all capabilities of a web browser.

Web Browser User Interface


Major web browsers have these user interface elements in common:
• Back and forward buttons to go back to the previous resource and
forward respectively.
• A refresh or reload button to reload the current resource.
• A stop button to cancel loading the resource. In some browsers, the
stop button is merged with the reload button.
• A home button to return to the user's home page.
• An address bar to input the Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) of the
desired resource and display it.
• A search bar to input terms into a search engine. In some browsers,
the search bar is merged with the address bar.
• A status bar to display progress in loading the resource and also the
URI of links when the cursor hovers over them, and page zooming
capability.
• The viewport, the visible area of the webpage within the browser
window.
• The ability to view the HTML source for a page.

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Popular Web Browsers
Major web browsers have these user interface elements in common:
• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Apple Safari
• Microsoft Internet Explorer
• Microsoft Edge
• Opera

Figure 2. Popular Web Browsers


Image grab from: https://www.trevorjones-it.co.uk/advice-and-tips/2019/4/23/the-best-web-
browsers-in-2019/

Google Chrome is a browser that combines a minimal design with high


technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier. Google Chrome browser
has difference from others. It has Incognito regime.

Figure 3: Google Chrome Interface Figure 4: Google Chrome Incognito Interface


Image grab from: Image grab from:
https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/4/1781 https://www.ghacks.net/2018/09/24/dont-like-
4516/google-chrome-new-design-features chromes-new-sign-in-experience-do-this/
MIS-6112 / Introduction to the World Wide Web
5
[Week 6: Web Browsers]

The Mozilla Firefox project was created by Dave Hyatt and Blake Ross.
Mozilla Firefox developed for Windows, OS X, and Linux, with a mobile version
for Android by the Mozilla Foundation. It was released in 2004.

Figure 5: Mozilla Firefox Interface


Image grab from: https://www.ghacks.net/2015/07/22/firefox-40-features-a-windows-10-
optimized-theme/

Safari are web browsers developed by Apple Inc. included with the OS X and
iOS operating systems. Safari is faster and more energy efficient than other
browsers. Safari is engineered specifically for Mac.

Figure 6: Safari Interface


Image grab from: https://www.fixyourbrowser.com/browser/safari/search-tabs-safari/

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Internet Explorer (IE) is a World Wide Web browser that comes bundled
with the Microsoft Windows operating system (OS). The browser was
deprecated in Windows 10 in favor of Microsoft's new Edge Browser.

Figure 7: Internet Explorer Interface


Image grab from: https://www.fixyourbrowser.com/browser/safari/search-tabs-safari/

Microsoft Edge is a web browser developed by Microsoft. It was first released


for Windows 10. It is now the default browser for the windows 10 operating
system.

Figure 8: Microsoft Edge


Image grab from: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/microsoft-edge

Popular Web Browsers


• Google Chrome: Windows, Mac OS X and Linux
• Mozilla Firefox : Windows, Mac OS X and Linux (Not compatible on
iOS)
• Internet Explorer: Windows (7 & 8)
• Safari: Mac OS X (Safari 5.17 is available to download for Windows)
• Opera : Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux
MIS-6112 / Introduction to the World Wide Web
7
[Week 6: Web Browsers]

• Microsoft Edge: Windows 10

Browser Market Share


• Google chrome ranks 1st in the 2019 Browser Market Share.
• Safari ranks 2nd in the 2019 Browser Market Share.
• Firefox ranks 3rd in the 2019 Browser Market Share.

Figure 9: StatCounter Global Stats – Browser Market Share – October 2019


Image grab from: https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share

References and Supplementary Materials

Online Supplementary Reading Materials


1. History of Web Browsers
https://crossbrowsertesting.com/blog/test-automation/history-of-web-
browsers/
Date accessed: December 2019
2. Internet Explorer
https://searchenterprisedesktop.techtarget.com/definition/Internet-Explorer
Date accessed: December 2019
3. Browsers
https://www.slideshare.net/aygun96/browsers-43154782
Date accessed: December 2019
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4. Web Browsers
https://www.slideshare.net/gwendelone/web-browsers-52694951
Date accessed: December 2019
5. Web Browsers
https://www.slideshare.net/CaptAahmed/web-browsers-39095670
Date accessed: December 2019

Online Instructional Videos


1. What is a Web Browser?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzohDuGk4mM
2. History of Web Browser
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a84nV-db50

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