Browsing the Internet III: Web Browsers

A web browser is a program used to access and view web pages.  To open a browser you simply click the icon associated with it.  The most used browser today is Windows Internet Explorer.  However, the most popular doesn't always equate to the best.  In today's day and age multiple web browsers vie for a position on your machine, each offering similar but different features.  As previously stated, Microsoft's Internet Explorer is the most popular web browser in use today.  But why?  Simply, it is included on the Windows operating system, which is the world's most prominent OS, and cannot be removed from it.  For many users, it is the only browser they know.  While older versions featured severely flawed security and CSS processing, the most recent versions offer competence in both areas.  One of the main competitors for IE's throne is Mozilla Corporation's Firefox.  Firefox is a free cross platform (usable one Macs, PCs, and Linux equipped machines) which features an internal download manager, internal search, and source code viewing tool.  It is also considered much safer than IE and renders websites more "correctly" than IE.  Another rising contender is Apple's Safari.  Which is essentially a Mac's version of IE.  However, it offers much better protection than IE as well as integrations with quicktime and ad and image blockers. 

For more information: http://www.smooth-step.com/web-browsers/popular