What is a Web Browser and How does it Work?
Last Updated :
05 Jun, 2025
The web browser is an application software used to explore the World Wide Web (WWW). It acts as a platform that allows users to access information from the Internet by serving as an interface between the client (user) and the server. The browser sends requests to servers for web documents and services, then renders the received HTML content, including text, images, links, styles, and scripts.
Simply being connected to the Internet isn't enough; a browser is essential to search and view content online. Popular web browsers include Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari.
How Does a Web Browser Work?
How Browser worksWhen a user accesses a website by typing a URL like https://geeksforgeeks.org into the browser, the browser first contacts a DNS (Domain Name System) server to translate the domain name into an IP address, such as 52.85.142.233. After obtaining the IP address, the browser sends a request to the corresponding web server. The web server processes this request and responds with the required content, including HTML, CSS, images, and scripts. The browser then uses this content to display the webpage to the user.
A browser helps us find information anywhere on the internet. It is installed on the client's computer and requests information from the web server; such a type of working model is called a client-server model.
The browser receives information through HTTP protocol. In which transmission of data is defined. When the browser received data from the server, it is rendered in HTML to user-readable form and, information is displayed on the device screen.
Website Cookies
When we visited any website over the internet our web browser stores information about us in small files called cookies. Cookies are designed to remember stateful information about our browsing history. Some more cookies are used to remember about us like our interests, our browsing patterns, etc. Websites show us ads based on our interests using cookies.
Note: For more details refer to this article on cookies here.
Core Architecture of Web Browser
When you use a browser, the User Interface (like the address bar or buttons) sends your request to the Browser Engine, which tells the Rendering Engine to load the webpage. The Rendering Engine reads the website code and shows it on your screen. It works with other parts like the JavaScript Interpreter (which runs scripts), Networking (which gets data from the internet), and the UI Backend (which helps display the page).
Some Popular Web Browsers
Comparison of Web BrowserKey Insights:
Google Chrome is the most popular browser, while Brave Browser offers the best speed and privacy balance. Tor Browser leads in privacy but is slower and less popular. Overall, Brave Browser stands out as the best choice for users prioritizing both speed and security.
To know more about individual browsers please go through our Browser – A Complete Overview
Here is a list of 7 popular web browsers:
1. Google Chrome: Developed by Google, Chrome is one of the most widely-used web browsers in the world, known for its speed and simplicity.
2. Mozilla Firefox: Developed by the Mozilla Foundation, Firefox is an open-source browser that is known for its privacy features and customization options.
3. Apple Safari: Developed by Apple, Safari is the default browser on Mac and iOS devices and is known for its speed and integration with other Apple products.
4. Microsoft Edge: Developed by Microsoft, Edge is the default browser on Windows 10 and is known for its integration with other Microsoft products and services.
5. Tor Browser: Developed by The Tor Project, Tor Browser is a web browser that is designed for anonymous web browsing and is based on Mozilla Firefox.
6. Opera: Developed by Opera Software, Opera is a web browser that is known for its speed and built-in VPN feature.
7. Brave: Developed by Brave Software, Brave is a web browser that is focused on privacy and security and blocks third-party ads and trackers by default.
Important Note: These are some of the most popular web browsers, there are other browsers available such as Vivaldi, Waterfox, and so on. The choice of a web browser depends on the user's preference and requirements.
History of the Web Browsers
The first web browser, World Wide Web, was invented by Tim Berners-Lee in 1990 and later renamed Nexus. In 1993, Mark Andreessen and his team developed Mosaic, the first browser to display text and images together. He later created Netscape in 1994. Microsoft introduced Internet Explorer in 1995, bundled with Windows. This led to the development of other browsers like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, and Opera, each offering unique features.
Important Note: For more details, refer to this article on History of Web Browsers.
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