What is a web browser: how it works and what it’s for

What is a web browser? The simplest answer comes from what it does: it’s the program you use to open websites. It downloads a page’s code from a server and turns it into the text, images, video and buttons you see. Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Firefox and Opera are all browsers.

Below: how a browser loads a page, how the Blink, Gecko and WebKit engines differ, which features almost every browser has, each browser’s market share in 2026, how to change your default browser on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and how to use it safely.

What a web browser is, in simple terms

The name comes from the verb “to browse” — to look through or leaf through something. A browser acts as a go-between for you and websites: you type an address or tap a link, it requests the page from the server where the site is stored and shows it on your screen.

Browsers run more than ordinary websites — they run entire services: email, documents, video, maps, online banking, online games. There’s nothing to install: you just open the address and sign in to your account.

A browser is already installed on almost every device. On Windows 10 and 11 it’s Microsoft Edge; on a Mac, iPhone and iPad it’s Safari; most Android phones come with Google Chrome, and Samsung phones also have Samsung Internet. You can install other browsers alongside them for free.

The first browser was written by British scientist Tim Berners-Lee in 1990 on a NeXT computer. The program was called WorldWideWeb; it was later renamed Nexus to avoid confusion with the World Wide Web itself.

Browser vs. search engine vs. the internet

People often mix these words up. The internet is the network that links computers and servers around the world. A browser is a program on your device for viewing websites. A search engine, such as Google or Bing, is a website that finds pages for your query, and you open it in a browser.

The confusion is understandable: you can type a query straight into the address bar, and the browser sends it to its default search engine. In Chrome that’s usually Google (in some countries the browser asks you to pick a search engine yourself), and in Edge it’s Bing. You change the search engine in the settings without changing the browser. We covered how to search more precisely in our article on Google search operators.

Programs other than browsers go online too — messaging apps, email clients, games. A browser is specifically for websites and web services.

How a browser opens a page

Between the moment you click a link and the finished page, the browser goes through several steps.

1. Address

   You type a site’s address or click a link

2. DNS

   The browser looks up the server’s IP address by the site name

3. Connection

   It connects to the server, encrypted over HTTPS

4. Request

   It asks for the page, and the server sends an HTML file

5. Rendering

   It loads styles, scripts and images and draws the page

First, the browser has to find the server. A name like appmaxx.com is convenient for people, but computers need a numeric IP address, and the browser gets it from the Domain Name System, or DNS — a kind of address book for the internet. Then it connects to the server, and if the address starts with https, it also agrees with the server on encryption.

Next, the browser sends an HTTP request, and the server returns an HTML file — the backbone of the page. As it reads that file, the browser finds links to the other files and loads them. A page usually has three layers:

• HTML sets the structure: headings, paragraphs, tables, places for images and video;
• CSS handles the look: fonts, colors, the layout of blocks;
• JavaScript makes the page interactive: menus, forms, loading new data without a reload.

From the HTML and CSS, the browser builds a model of the page, calculates the size and position of every element and draws the result on screen. When you scroll, click buttons or a script changes the content, the browser recalculates and redraws the affected parts.

The browser engine: Blink, Gecko and WebKit

The part that reads the code and draws the page is the engine, the core of any browser. Popular browsers rely on just three independent engines:

• Blink is the engine of the open-source Chromium project, led by Google. It powers Chrome, Microsoft Edge (since 2020), Opera (since 2013), Samsung Internet, Brave and Vivaldi.
• Gecko is Mozilla’s engine; Firefox runs on it.
• WebKit is Apple’s engine; Safari runs on it.

That’s why Chromium-based browsers are alike in the basics: websites open the same way in all of them, and Chrome extensions can also be installed in Edge and Vivaldi. What sets them apart is the interface, privacy settings and extra features.

iPhone and iPad have a quirk of their own: App Store rules require browsers to use WebKit. So outside the EU and Japan, Chrome, Edge and Firefox for iOS run on the same engine as Safari. In the European Union (since iOS 17.4) and Japan (since iOS 26.2), developers can get Apple’s permission to use their own engine.

What a browser is for: the main features

A browser’s main job is opening websites, but almost every one of them also has a common set of tools:

• Tabs. You keep several sites open in one window and switch between them with a single click.
• Bookmarks. Pages you need are saved to a list so you don’t have to look for them again.
• History. The browser remembers the pages you’ve opened and suggests addresses as you start typing. You can view and clear your history.
• Passwords and autofill. The built-in password manager remembers logins and fills them in on websites, and forms with your address and phone number fill themselves in. Many services already support passkeys — signing in with a fingerprint, your face or a PIN instead of a password.
• Sync. If you sign in to the browser with an account, your bookmarks, passwords and other data show up on all your devices and aren’t lost when you replace your phone or laptop.
• Extensions. Small add-ons that bring new features: an ad blocker, a translator, a password manager, notes. You get them from official catalogs: the Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, Microsoft Edge Add-ons, and the App Store for Safari.
• Downloads. The browser downloads files, keeps a list of them and warns you about dangerous downloads.
• Private mode. A window that leaves no history or site data on your device once you close it: Incognito in Chrome, InPrivate in Edge, Private Browsing in Firefox and Safari. In Chrome and Edge on Windows, Ctrl + Shift + N opens one.
• Translation and PDF viewing. You can translate a whole page written in a foreign language, and PDF files open right in a tab.
• AI assistant. Chrome has Gemini and Edge has Copilot: they summarize long pages and answer questions about your open tabs. Which features you get depends on your country and language.
• Updates. The browser downloads new versions with security fixes on its own; Chrome, for example, applies an update when it restarts.

Popular browsers in 2026

According to StatCounter data for August 2026, Chrome accounts for more than two-thirds of page views worldwide. Safari, whose share rests mostly on the iPhone, is second, and Microsoft Edge is third.

Browser	Developer	Engine	Worldwide share, %
Google Chrome	Google	Blink	69.4
Safari	Apple	WebKit	15.8
Microsoft Edge	Microsoft	Blink	5.4
Firefox	Mozilla	Gecko	3.0
Samsung Internet	Samsung	Blink	2.0
Opera	Opera	Blink	1.9

On computers the picture is different: Edge is second there with 10.5%, while Firefox and Safari have about 5% each. On smartphones Safari holds about 26%, while Edge and Firefox are under 1%.

Market share reflects popularity, not quality. Any browser in the table will handle everyday tasks; they differ in privacy, extensions, memory use and how they connect with your other devices. We compared them in detail in our article on which browser to choose for speed, security and privacy.

How to choose and change your default browser

Your default browser is the one that opens links from email, messaging apps and documents. You can install as many browsers as you like, but only one is the default. It makes sense to choose based on what you use every day:

• you work a lot in Google services and use extensions — Chrome;
• you use an iPhone and a Mac and want shared tabs and passwords — Safari;
• you work in Windows and Microsoft services — Edge;
• you want a browser whose engine doesn’t depend on Chromium, plus flexible privacy settings — Firefox.

The easiest way is to say yes when a new browser offers to become your default: in Chrome for Mac, for example, there’s a Make default button in the Default browser section of the settings. If you don’t get that offer, change the browser in your system settings.

Windows 11

Press Win + I to open Settings and go to Apps → Default apps. Find the browser you want in the list, open it and select Set default at the top of the page, next to “Make … your default browser.” In Windows 10, you pick the browser under Web browser at the bottom of the Default apps page.

macOS

Open the Apple menu → System Settings → Desktop & Dock, scroll down on the right and choose a browser from the Default web browser menu. That’s how it works in macOS Ventura 13 and later; in earlier versions the menu is in System Preferences → General.

iPhone and iPad

Open Settings → Apps → Default Apps (at the top of the list) → Browser App and choose the browser you want. If you don’t see that option, update iOS or iPadOS to the latest version.

Android

Open Settings → Apps → Default apps (on some phones, Choose default apps) → Browser app and pick the app. Menu names can vary slightly from one manufacturer to another.

How to use a browser safely

You sign in to email, your bank and social networks through your browser, so protecting it means protecting your accounts. The basic rules:

• Download a browser only from its official website or an app store. Copies from file-sharing and dubious sites may contain malware.
• Don’t put off updates. New versions patch vulnerabilities. In Chrome, you check for updates via the three-dot icon → Help → About Google Chrome; if a Relaunch button appears, click it. Don’t install “updates” that pop-up windows on websites offer you to download.
• Check the site address. A secure connection (https) means data is encrypted in transit, but it doesn’t guarantee the site is honest. Check the site name in the address bar, especially before entering a password or card details.
• Don’t turn off built-in protection. Chrome warns you about dangerous sites, downloads and extensions using Google Safe Browsing, and Standard protection is on by default. Edge, Firefox and Safari have similar features.
• Install only the extensions you need. Get them from official catalogs, check what permissions they ask for and remove the ones you don’t use: an extension with access to all sites can see the content of every page you open.
• Protect your accounts. Use different passwords and keep them in a password manager, and turn on two-factor authentication or passkey sign-in for important services.
• On someone else’s computer, use a private window. When you’re done, sign out of your accounts and close all private windows: only then does the session end.

Sources and methodology

Analysis of public sourcesChecked 22 September 2026

1. MDN: How browsers load and display a page developer.mozilla.org
2. StatCounter: worldwide browser market share, August 2026 gs.statcounter.com
3. Apple: App Store Review Guidelines, section 2.5.6 on WebKit developer.apple.com
4. Microsoft: Change default apps in Windows support.microsoft.com
5. Google: Incognito mode in Chrome support.google.com

FAQ

Are a browser and the internet the same thing?

No. The internet is a network, and a browser is a program for viewing websites on it. Messaging apps, email and games go online without a browser, but websites are opened in one.

Which browser comes preinstalled on computers and phones?

Windows 10 and 11 come with Microsoft Edge; Mac, iPhone and iPad come with Safari; most Android phones come with Google Chrome. Samsung phones also have Samsung Internet.

Can you install more than one browser?

Yes, they don’t interfere with each other. Links from other apps open in your default browser, which you can change in your system settings.

Do you have to pay for a browser?

No. Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox, Opera and Samsung Internet are free. If a website asks you to pay to download a browser, it isn’t an official source.

Does Incognito mode protect you from tracking?

No. It only stops your history and site data from being saved on your device after you close the windows. Websites, your internet provider and the administrator of a work or school network can still see what you do.