What is a web browser
A web browser is a software application that lets you access and interact with websites on the internet. It retrieves data from web servers using protocols like HTTP or HTTPS, interprets the website’s HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code, and displays the content in a readable form.
In simple terms, it’s the tool that turns web code into the text, images, videos, and interactive pages you see online.
Popular browsers, such as Google Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge, also include features like tabbed browsing, bookmarks, password management, and privacy settings to make web navigation easier and more secure.
A web browser is software that allows users to access information on the World Wide Web.
It retrieves web pages via HTTP/HTTPS, interprets HTML/CSS/JavaScript, and renders visual content.
Provides UI features like address bar, navigation (back/forward), bookmarks/favourites, history, tabs/windows.
Often supports extensions/plugins, sync of bookmarks/passwords across devices, and privacy/ security features.
Major browsers also include built-in tools such as developer consoles, privacy settings, pop-up blockers, ad blockers, and sometimes sandboxing.
Functions of a Web Browser
A web browser performs several key functions that make internet use possible:
Accessing Web Pages – Connects to web servers using protocols like HTTP/HTTPS to fetch website data.
Rendering Content – Translates web code (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) into readable text, images, and interactive layouts.
Navigation – Provides tools like the address bar, back/forward buttons, and tabs for smooth browsing.
Data Management – Stores browsing history, cookies, and cached files for faster loading and personalized experiences.
Security & Privacy – Protects users from malicious sites, phishing, and trackers through features like private browsing and HTTPS warnings.
Browser vs Search Engine: What’s the Difference?
Many people confuse a browser with a search engine, but they’re not the same thing.
A web browser is a software application you use to open and view websites — examples include Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. It loads and displays web pages using Internet protocols.
A search engine, on the other hand, is a website or online tool that helps you find information on the internet. Popular search engines include Google Search, Bing, Baidu, and Yahoo.
In simple terms, you use a browser to access a search engine, and the search engine helps you discover and navigate to other websites.
Top 10 web browser by market share (2025):
Google Chrome
- Country of Origin: United States
- Developed by: Google LLC
- Market Share (2025): Around 66–70% globally
- Extensions Availability: Very extensive — more than 150,000 extensions available in the Chrome Web Store
Google Chrome is built on the Blink rendering engine and is widely praised for its speed, simplicity, and strong integration with Google services like Gmail and Drive. However, it’s often criticized for high memory usage and privacy concerns related to data tracking.
Safari
- Country of Origin: United States
- Developed by: Apple Inc.
- Market Share (2025): Around 13–18% globally
- Extensions Availability: Moderate — available through the Safari Extensions Gallery and App Store, but fewer compared to Chrome
Safari is the default browser for Apple devices and is optimized for performance and battery efficiency on macOS and iOS. It emphasizes privacy, offering features like Intelligent Tracking Prevention, though its limited extensions and Apple-only availability restrict its reach.
Microsoft Edge
- Country of Origin: United States
- Developed by: Microsoft Corporation
- Market Share (2025): Around 5–6% globally
- Extensions Availability: Extensive — supports both Microsoft Edge Add-ons and most Chrome Web Store extensions due to its Chromium base
Microsoft Edge is built on the Chromium engine, offering fast performance, strong security features, and smooth integration with Windows and Microsoft 365. It has gained popularity for its efficient memory usage and productivity-focused tools like Collections and vertical tabs.
Mozilla Firefox
- Country of Origin: United States
- Developed by: Mozilla Foundation
- Market Share (2025): Around 2–3% globally
- Extensions Availability: Extensive — thousands of add-ons available through the Mozilla Add-ons (AMO) store
Firefox is an open-source browser known for its strong stance on privacy and user control. It offers solid performance, customizable features, and cross-platform support, though its market share has declined in recent years due to competition from Chromium-based browsers.
Samsung Internet
- Country of Origin: South Korea
- Developed by: Samsung Electronics
- Market Share (2025): Around 2–2.5% globally
- Extensions Availability: Limited — supports a small number of add-ons, mainly focused on ad blocking and privacy tools
Samsung Internet is a mobile-focused browser built on Chromium and optimized for Android, particularly Samsung Galaxy devices. It offers smooth performance, a clean interface, and useful privacy options, though its limited availability outside the Samsung ecosystem restricts wider adoption..
Opera
- Country of Origin: Norway
- Developed by: Opera Software AS
- Market Share (2025): Around 2–2.5% globally
- Extensions Availability: Moderate — supports extensions from the Opera Add-ons store and can also install Chrome extensions with a helper add-on
Opera is known for its innovative features like a built-in VPN, ad blocker, and social media sidebars. It offers a smooth, lightweight browsing experience, though it has a smaller user base and extension ecosystem compared to Chrome or Edge.
UC Browser
- Country of Origin: China
- Developed by: UCWeb, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group
- Market Share (2025): Around 1–2% globally, with a stronger presence in parts of Asia and Africa
- Extensions Availability: Limited — mainly supports basic add-ons and built-in tools for download management and ad blocking
UC Browser gained popularity on mobile devices for its fast page loading and data compression technology. However, it has faced criticism over privacy and data security concerns, leading to a decline in global usage outside developing markets.
Yandex Browser
- Country of Origin: Russia
- Developed by: Yandex N.V.
- Market Share (2025): Around 0.8–1.2% globally, with strong usage in Russia and neighboring countries
- Extensions Availability: Moderate — supports add-ons from the Chrome Web Store and Yandex’s own extension catalog
Yandex Browser is based on Chromium and integrates tightly with Yandex’s search and cloud services. It offers built-in protection against malicious sites and automatic page translation, but its data routing and origin have raised privacy concerns among some users.
Brave
- Country of Origin: United States
- Developed by: Brave Software, Inc.
- Market Share (2025): Around 1% globally, with steady growth among privacy-conscious users
- Extensions Availability: extensive — compatible with most Chrome Web Store extensions due to its Chromium foundation
Brave is a privacy-focused browser that blocks ads and trackers by default, offering faster and more secure browsing. It also introduces an optional crypto rewards system through its Basic Attention Token (BAT), appealing to users who value both privacy and innovation.
QQ Browser
- Country of Origin: China
- Developed by: Tencent Holdings Ltd.
- Market Share (2025): Around 0.5–1% globally, with strong usage in China
- Extensions Availability: Limited — mainly supports built-in tools for video playback, file sharing, and security features, with fewer third-party extensions compared to Western browsers
QQ Browser is designed primarily for the Chinese market and integrates deeply with Tencent’s ecosystem, including QQ and WeChat services. It offers fast browsing and localized features, though it’s less popular internationally due to limited global support and language availability.
Perplexity Comet
- Country of Origin: United States
- Developed by: Perplexity AI
- Market Share (2025): Still relatively small / not yet measured. Comet was only recently launched (initially via subscription and invite) and made free globally in October 2025, so it hasn’t had enough time to gain a measurable share.
Comet is an AI browser designed for “agentic search,” meaning it can do more than just load pages — it tries to help by summarizing content, comparing products, planning, answering directly, etc.
Comet started as a premium subscription product, but as of October 2025, it’s been opened up more broadly (free versions available), signaling Perplexity’s ambition to compete with dominant browsers by focusing on smarter, AI-assisted browsing.
CCleaner Browser
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Developed by: Gen Digital Inc. (formerly Avast, now part of Gen Digital)
Market Share (2025): Less than 0.5% globally — niche user base
Extensions Availability: Supports Chrome Web Store extensions (Chromium-based), along with built-in privacy and performance tools
CCleaner Browser is a privacy-focused web browser built on Chromium and designed to enhance security and browsing speed.
It integrates features such as ad blocking, anti-tracking, anti-phishing protection, and performance optimization tools directly into the browser.
While it remains a niche player globally, it appeals to users seeking a lightweight browser with built-in security and system optimization features.
Summary Table
| Browser | Country of Origin | Developed by | Market Share (2025) | Extensions Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Chrome | United States | Google LLC | 66–70% | Very extensive — 150,000+ extensions via Chrome Web Store |
| Safari | United States | Apple Inc. | 13–18% | Moderate — via App Store, fewer than Chrome |
| Microsoft Edge | United States | Microsoft Corporation | 5–6% | Extensive — supports Edge Add-ons & Chrome extensions |
| Firefox | United States | Mozilla Foundation | 2–3% | Extensive — thousands of add-ons via Mozilla Add-ons |
| Samsung Internet | South Korea | Samsung Electronics | 2–2.5% | Limited — small set focused on privacy and ad blocking |
| Opera | Norway | Opera Software AS | 2–2.5% | Moderate — Opera Add-ons + Chrome extensions supported |
| UC Browser | China | UCWeb (Alibaba Group) | 1–2% | Limited — basic built-in tools and few add-ons |
| Yandex Browser | Russia | Yandex N.V. | 0.8–1.2% | Moderate — supports Chrome Web Store extensions |
| Brave | United States | Brave Software, Inc. | ~1% | Extensive — compatible with Chrome extensions |
| QQ Browser | China | Tencent Holdings Ltd. | 0.5–1% | Limited — built-in tools, minimal third-party extensions |
FAQ:
What about Internet Explorer — is it a browser or a search engine?
Internet Explorer is a web browser, not a search engine.
It was developed by Microsoft and served as the default browser for Windows computers from 1995 until it was gradually replaced by Microsoft Edge.
A browser (like Internet Explorer) is the software that displays websites, while a search engine (like Bing or Google) is a website you use within a browser to find information.
What Is Chromium?
Chromium is an open-source web browser project created and maintained by Google. It serves as the foundation for many popular browsers, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Opera.
Developers use Chromium’s source code to build their own browsers, adding features, branding, and services on top of it. While Chromium itself is lightweight and privacy-focused, it lacks some proprietary components found in Chrome — such as automatic updates, built-in media codecs, and Google account sync.
Chromium vs Google Chrome
| Feature | Chromium | Google Chrome |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Open-source project | Proprietary browser built on Chromium |
| Developer | Google (open-source community) | Google LLC |
| License | Open-source (BSD license) | Freeware (closed-source components) |
| Automatic Updates | ❌ Not included — must update manually | ✅ Built-in automatic updates |
| Media Codecs (e.g., MP3, H.264) | ❌ Limited support | ✅ Full multimedia support |
| Google Services Integration | ❌ None by default | ✅ Built-in sync with Google account, Gmail, Drive, etc. |
| Extensions Support | ✅ Yes, via Chrome Web Store | ✅ Yes, via Chrome Web Store |
| Privacy | ✅ Fewer data connections to Google | ⚠️ Sends usage and crash data to Google by default |
| Availability | Mainly for developers or tech users | Widely available for all users on desktop and mobile |