Web browser facts for kids
A web browser is a computer program that helps you explore the World Wide Web. Think of it as a tool that lets you visit websites on the Internet. Since the late 1990s, most computers, mobile phones, and other mobile devices come with a web browser already installed.
People use web browsers to find and view websites online. The very first web browser was made in 1990. Today, you can find many different web browsers, and most of them are free to use. While all browsers let you visit websites, each one has its own special features. For example, some browsers are designed to keep your computer safe from viruses and protect your data. Others are built to show web pages very quickly.
Contents
What Are Popular Web Browsers?
Many web browsers are very popular around the world. You might already use one of these:
- Internet Explorer: This browser used to come with Microsoft Windows computers.
- Microsoft Edge: This is a newer, more modern browser from Microsoft. It is included with Windows 10 and newer versions.
- Google Chrome: A very widely used browser made by Google.
- Mozilla Firefox: A popular browser known for its focus on privacy.
- Opera: Another browser with unique features.
- Safari: This browser is usually found on Apple devices like Macs, iPhones, and iPads.
Other browsers you might hear about include:
How Do Web Browsers Work?
A webpage is like a single page in a big online book. Every web page has a unique address called a web address (or URL).
Displaying Web Pages
When you type a web address into your browser, the browser goes to that address. It then downloads a special file called an HTML file. HTML is a code that tells the browser how to show the page.
The browser has a special part called a browser engine. This engine reads and understands the HTML code. After reading the code, the browser shows the web page on your screen. You will see text, images, and clickable links that take you to other pages.
Images for kids
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Nicola Pellow and Tim Berners-Lee in their office at CERN.
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WorldWideWeb was the first web browser.
See also
In Spanish: Navegador web para niños
