Browser

Let’s learn about one of the most fundamental tools for exploring the internet: A Browser/ web browser/ internet browser

Here is a quick overview of the topics we will cover in this guide.

1. What is a browser?
2. Components of a browser
3. How does a web browser work?
4. :Popular web browsers

What is a browser?

A browser is a software application used to explore the internet(maybe this is where that name comes from). It acts as a middle man between the user and the world wide web to display the contents on the screen. The contents are available in the form of text, audio, video, images, etc.

for example:
Where did you type/search about my blog? Search bar? Yes, it is a search bar. But where is the search bar? In the Chrome/Firefox/Safari or any browser you are using right now. Let’s learn more about it.

Although browsers are firstly used to retrieve an information resource on the World Wide Web, they are also used to access information provided by web servers in private networks or files in file systems.

Components of a browser

Primary Components of a browser

1. User Interface: It is a self-explanatory component. Here is where a user gets many options to interact with the browser like the address bar, back and forward button, menu, bookmarking, etc.
2. Browser Engine: It is a bridge which connects the User Interface with the rendering engine. It queries and manipulates the rendering engine based on inputs coming from multiple user interfaces.
3. Rendering Engine: It displays the content which is requested by the user.
4. Networking: It retrives the URLs and manages all sorts of safety, privacy and communication.
5. Data Storage: The data storage layer is a persistence layer that allows the browser to retain local data such as cookies. Different storage systems, such as IndexedDB, WebSQL, localStorage, and FileSystem, are also supported by browsers. It’s a database that’s saved on your computer’s local storage, where the browser is installed. It manages cache, bookmarks, cookies, and settings for users.
6. JavaScript Interpreter: It translates the JavaScript code and sends to the rendering engine to display it on the screen.
7. UI Backend: It is used to to make widgets and also to specify a generic interface

How does a browser work?

A web browser work as part of client-server model.

Whenever a user enters something into the search bar, the request is sent to the domain name servers(DNS). The domain name servers keep a record of all the system names along with their corresponding IP addresses.

Hence, when you type something in the browser’s search bar, it gets converted into a number that determines the computers to which the search results are to be displayed.

The browser which is the client, sends this IP address to the servers by using the HyperText Transfer Protocol(HTTP) in response to the users request. When the request is received by the srver, it collects information about the same and forwards the information back to the browser. The browser then translates and displays the data on the user’s device.

Popular web browsers (along with links to download)

1. Google Chrome: Due to its fast browsing speed and easy integration with Google accounts, it has become one of the most popular and used browsers.
2. Mozilla Firefox: Though Firefox has lost market share to chrome and safari, it still has a group of developers who prefer using it.
3. Microsoft Edge: Microsoft Windows Operating System provides Microsoft Edge(earlier Internet Explorer). Edge is built on the Chromium browser platform, which also underpins Chrome and other browsers as well.
4. Safari: This one is used by Apple device holders and is one of the most popular mobile web browsers in the US.
5. Opera: It is a fast and stable browser that’s compatible with most relatively operating systems.

This is my learning about browsers.
Hope you had a good time reading it!