Why is it in the News?

Web browsers are our digital passports to the vast universe of the internet. Their simplicity is deceptive: beneath their user-friendly interfaces lies a world of intricate processes that transform clicks into the web pages we interact with every day.

What are web browsers?

• Fundamentally, the browser is an application that people use to send and receive messages via the internet.
• In other words, the browser is a program that runs on our device, with its purpose being to fetch information in different formats from the internet and show it on the device.
• It also does the reverse, receiving your input (say, a click), translating it to code, and transmitting it to some other machine across the internet.
• In the year 1990, the English computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee introduced the concept of the World Wide Web also named ‘WorldWideWeb’.

What Constitutes a Web Browser?

Web browsers today comprise numerous essential components, each representing a sophisticated technology. Additionally, they depend on various supporting technologies and adhere to established standards governing the functioning of the Internet.

• Request and Response: When we enter a website's URL, the browser sends a request to a server, asking for the specific web page.
• The server processes the request and sends back a response containing the information needed to construct the page.
• This response, akin to a digital blueprint, travels back to our browser.
• Deconstructing the Response: The server's response comprises various files encoded in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• HTML outlines the webpage structure, CSS adds style and aesthetics, while JavaScript brings interactivity, making the page dynamic and engaging.
• Rendering: The browser deciphers HTML, applies CSS for styling, and executes JavaScript for interactivity, rapidly assembling the final webpage.
• Rendering engines are crucial technology enabling quick and cohesive visual presentation.
• Managing Data: Browsers use cookies for retaining site preferences and cache for storing frequently accessed files.
• Cookies act like post-it notes, preserving login status and preferences, while the cache accelerates page loading by retrieving stored files instead of downloading them again.
• Security: Browsers prioritize security by employing encryption protocols like HTTPS for data exchange.
• They create secure 'tunnels' to shield information during transmission. Warning systems alert users about potential threats, enhancing overall online safety.

As technology advances, web browsers are on a trajectory of continuous evolution. They are integrating state-of-the-art technologies such as WebAssembly, facilitating near-native performance within the browser. The future holds promises of support for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences, offering immersive online interactions. Privacy features are also being fortified, empowering users with enhanced control over their digital presence.