A web browser program is a client side ( ie installed in the users' computer ) program which provides a means of reading or rather interacting with web sites located on the Internet or World Wide Web.
The browser makes requests using the HTTP ( Hypertext Transfer Protocol ) to web site hosting servers and displays the information received. many browsers are capable of using other protocols such as FTP ( File Transfer Protocol ).
The most popular browser programs are Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari an Opera (see the resources note below). As of the end of September 2009 the Internet usage of these browser programs was as follows:-
| Internet Explorer IE6 | 12.1% |
| Internet Explorer IE7 | 15.3% |
| Internet Explorer IE8 | 12.2% |
| Firefox | 46.6% |
| Google Chrome | 7.1% |
| Safari | 3.6% |
| Opera | 2.2% |
Internet Explorer has mainly been popular by default, since many computer manufacturers bundle the Microsoft operating system ( which includes IE ) with their machines. So, users have not been offered a choice. Moreover, Microsoft have been slow to conform to web standards in the past which has resulted in IE6 and IE7 being notoriously buggy and difficult to work with from a web site design perspective. IE8 is the latest Microsoft offering and represents a belated attempt to catch up with the the now most popular browser, Firefox.
The choice of browser program is of course personal but, Firefox has gained the largest market share with good reason. It is fast, accurate and permits a great deal of customization. There are also additional add-on programs which extend the functionality of the basic browser in many ways. Curiously enough Firefox is not the most advanced. That title is now bestowed on Safari 4 which is the without doubt the most up to date and ready for the next advances in web technology.
The browser installation programs can be found at the following web site addresses
| Firefox | http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/firefox/ |
| Chrome | http://www.google.com/chrome?hl=en-GB |
| Safari | http://www.apple.com/safari/ |
| Opera | http://www.opera.com/ |
| Internet Explorer IE8 | http://www.microsoft.com/windows/Internet-explorer/default.aspx |