Web browser Wikipedia

While other browsers force their use by coming pre-installed on devices, Opera is chosen by hundreds of millions of users because of its superior performance. Telemetry data is collected by most popular web browsers, which can usually be opted out of by the user. Web browsers are popular targets for hackers, who exploit security holes to steal information, destroy files, and partake in other malicious activities. As of February 2025, mobile devices represent a 62% share of Internet traffic, followed by desktop at 36% and tablet at 2%.
Edge in particular has grown in popularity and competes seriously on Windows. If you want a Chrome-like experience without Google’s data collection, Ungoogled Chromium removes those integrations entirely. For more private browsing, Firefox blocks cross-site tracking by default. Downloads and bookmarks created during the session also remain on the device.
Split view lets you view two tabs at the same time for a more streamlined, flexible way to work. Gemini in Chrome helps you easily understand content on the web and get things done using the context of your open tabs and browsing history. Opera is shaping the web in unexpected ways, providing free access to AI, Web3, and advanced innovative features. Keep your tabs arranged in separate groups for contextual browsing Safari, based on Apple’s WebKit code, is the second most popular web browser and is dominant on Apple devices, resulting in a 16% global share. A web browser is able to access DRM-restricted content through the use of a Content Decryption Module (CDM) such as Widevine.
Most browsers use spinlynx an internal cache of web page resources to improve loading times for subsequent visits to the same page. A web browser, often abbreviated as browser, is an application for accessing websites. To enable it on desktop, click the profile icon in the top-right corner and select Turn On sync.

Control and choice built in

However, web browsers are often used to access search engines, and most modern browsers allow users to access a default search engine directly by typing a query into the address bar. When signed in, Chrome can save bookmarks, passwords, browsing history, open tabs, settings, themes, extensions, addresses, and other selected data to a Google Account. Just like your bookmarks and passwords, your tab groups are now available across all your devices.
Browsers are used on a range of devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, smart televisions and consoles. You can group tabs together for better organization or pin tabs to automatically open websites you use the most. Reader mode clears distractions from articles, picture-in-picture keeps video out of your way, and pinned tabs keep what matters close without clutter. Sign in to Chrome on any device to access your bookmarks, saved passwords and more. Sign in to Chrome on any device to access your bookmarks, saved passwords, and more.

Similar apps

• As of 2026update, the most used browsers worldwide are Google Chrome (~69% market share), Safari (~16%), Edge (~5%), Firefox (~2%), Samsung Browser (~2%), and Opera (~2%).
• Read aloud is best for content like news stories, articles, or even PDFs.
• As of 2020, the CDMs used by dominant web browsers require browser providers to pay costly license fees, making it unfeasible for most independent open-source browsers to offer access to DRM-restricted content.
• In recent years Google has added built-in tools to address this.
• One reason has been to enable more sophisticated websites, such as web apps.
• However, since then, mobile devices (smartphones) have represented the majority of web traffic.
• You can withdraw your consent and stop sharing this data anytime by clicking “Cookie Consent” at the bottom of Opera’s webpage.

However, websites, internet providers, employers, schools, and network administrators may still be able to see browsing activity. Keep in mind that syncing your data ties it to your Google account, which factors into the privacy trade-offs discussed before. Overall, Chrome remains among the fastest browsers for complex web apps and JavaScript-heavy sites. In recent years Google has added built-in tools to address this. Chrome has long had a reputation as a RAM hog, but competing browsers can be just as resource-hungry under heavy use. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and other major browsers are updated every few weeks, making direct speed comparisons a moving target.

Take your tabs, history, and passwords wherever you go.

• They also allow users to set bookmarks, customize the browser with extensions, and manage their downloads and passwords.
• Browsers are used on a range of devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, smart televisions and consoles.
• Similar controls are available for pop-ups, redirects, camera access, and location permissions.
• Google Chrome has been the dominant browser worldwide since the mid-2010s and currently has a 69% global market share on all devices.
• Use Safety Check to instantly audit for compromised passwords, safe browsing status and any available Chrome updates.

You can set Chrome as your default browser on Windows or Mac operating systems as well as your iPhone, iPad or Android device. Chrome is compatible with devices that run Windows and Mac operating systems, provided they meet the minimum system requirements. Once Chrome is installed, you can delete the install file.
Vertical tabs stack down the side of your browser window, so you can read full page titles and manage tab groups with ease – even when your tab count hits double digits. Chrome uses cutting-edge safety and security features to help you manage your safety. Personalize your web browser with themes, dark mode and other options built just for you. Sick of juggling multiple windows or switching between tabs?
Responsive web design is used to create websites that offer a consistent experience across the desktop and mobile versions of the website and across varying screen sizes. They automatically log users‘ browsing history, unless the users turn off their browsing history or use the non-logging private mode. Since the early 2000s, browsers have greatly expanded their HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and multimedia capabilities. Apple released its Safari browser in 2003; it remains the dominant browser on Apple devices, though it did not become popular elsewhere. A search engine is a website that provides links to other websites and allows users to search for specific resources using a textual query.

Prior to late 2016, the majority of web traffic came from desktop computers. Both of these codebases are open-source, so a number of small niche browsers are also made from them. Google Chrome has been the dominant browser worldwide since the mid-2010s and currently has a 69% global market share on all devices. Access to some web content — particularly streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify — is restricted by Digital Rights Management (DRM) software. Starting in the mid-2020s, browsers with integrated artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, known as AI browsers, have become increasingly common.