A browser, also known as a web browser or internet browser, is an application program designed to give users access to information available on the world wide web (WWW). The browsers also support external plugins that people use to interact with active content, including images, audio, video, and Adobe Flash content.
The best browsers come with a search engine, address bar, privacy, and bookmark management functionality for a smooth user experience. Individuals and business users rely on web browsers to find answers to queries, stream videos, and shop online. Web developers and software programmers turn to these tools for web application testing and debugging.
Web browsers are also known as client programs because they use hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) to request and translate data from web servers into human-readable content on behalf of users. Browser systems can show content that was created using hypertext markup language (HTML), extensive markup language (XML), and other protocols and prefixes, such as file transfer protocol (FTP), email hanging (mailto:), secure HTTP (HTTPS), and files (file:).
Browser applications follow a client/server model. Acting as a client, the browser asks the web server for information. Then, the web server processes the browser’s request before sharing the requested information. This structured approach of the client-server model ensures easy task distribution and resource management between a browser and a server.
To qualify for inclusion in the Browser category, a product must:
- Be downloadable
- Translate HTML into readable content
- Support external plugins to display active content
