Today, Internet technology is developing at a frantic pace. Not surprisingly, browsers also do not lag behind web content viewers. But let's find out what are the browsers for the computer, and which of all this huge amount to prefer for work.
What is a browser?
Let's start with the very definition of this type of program. What is a browser? The official interpretation says that this is not only a means of viewing the contents of web pages with text, graphic, sound or video information, but also a tool for managing sites or web applications, creating search queries, using additional add-ons that increase the functionality of the program, downloading the necessary content to a computer etc.
Now we will consider what browsers there are for the computer, what are the differences between similar programs, what additional features they have, etc. Finally, we will pay attention to the comparative characteristics of the most popular applications and give some tips on using this or that browser on the computer.
True, we make a reservation right away: here you need to clearly understand that the work of programs of this type directly depends not only on the computer configuration, but also on many other factors, including the type of operating system, installed settings and plugins, the quality and type of Internet connection, and much more. So to answer unequivocally which is the fastest browser for the computer, it simply does not seem possible. In other words, the conclusion will be very arbitrary. But for convenience, we will consider Windows systems that we have received the most distribution.
The history of the development of Internet technologies in browsers
Now we find out how it all began. It is believed that the first-born in the history of the development of applications of this type was the viewer, which was originally called WorldWideWeb and owed its birth in 1990 to Tim Burns-Lee, the founder of the Internet. As already clear, WWW reduction then firmly entrenched in the World Wide Web itself. The browser itself later received the name Nexus, however, it was not widely distributed.
The first software product of this type, which gained immense popularity around the world, was the NCSA Mosaic application. It is the technology implemented in this browser that later became the basis for creating such monsters as Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.
Unfortunately, Netscape Navigator did not last long, although it was considered a fairly convenient and quick program. This was due only to the fact that, first of all, it was focused on operating UNIX-like systems and Mac OS. At the time of the global attack on the world market of Windows-systems, it became unclaimed, since the operating systems themselves already had built-in Internet Explorer, and the need to install additional software simply disappeared. In addition, the "native" Windows browser at that time showed good performance and was quite convenient in terms of interface congestion with unnecessary elements.
What browsers are there for the computer today? They can be counted not even tens, but hundreds. Of course, among all this, several most popular programs can be distinguished, but for the sake of understanding the topic under discussion, we will try to provide at least a rough list of everything that can be found on the Internet.
What are the browsers for the computer. Overview
So what about today's programs? Frankly, sometimes it seems that every developer stubbornly sets himself the goal of creating a tool for Internet surfing, just to get a user audience. In particular, this applies to most search or mail sites, for example, Yandex with its Yandex browser or Mail.Ru with its Amigo.
Alas, most of these applications are created in the image and likeness of more powerful systems. As a rule, technologies are borrowed from Google Chrome, in which some changes are made, some elements are removed or added. And the saddest thing is that almost all developers shout loudly that their browser is the fastest.
But they often have such an amount of advertising that work is simply unbearable. Therefore, the user asks the question: what are the browsers for the computer without ads? Now let's try to introduce just such a program. Let's look at existing browsers for the computer. The list (far from complete) is presented below:
- Internet Explorer
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Opera
- Safari
- Edge
- Yandex Browser
- Amigo.
- Acoo Browser.
- Arora.
- Avant Browser
- Browzar.
- Chromium.
- 360 Safety Browser.
- CoolNovo.
- Citrio
- Coowon Browser.
- Comodo Dragon.
- Double
- DustyNet
- Epic Privacy Browser.
- Goona browser
- Green Browser.
- Internet surfboard.
- K-Meleon.
- Kylo.
- Loonascape.
- Maxthon
- Midori Browser.
- Mozilla Flock and Mozilla SeaMonkey.
- Netsurf.
- Nuke.
- Orbitum.
- Orca.
- Pale moon.
- Pirate Browser.
- PlayFree Browser.
- QIP Sirf Browser .;
- QtWeb Browser.
- QupZilla
- RockMelt
- Slepnir Browser.
- Slim Browser
- SRWare Iron.
- Sundance Browser.
- TheWorld.
- Tor
- Torch Browser.
- Vivaldi.
- Uran.
- YRC Weblink.
- Rambler Browser etc.
Enough? What do you think? If you carefully look even at the above names, it becomes clear that only the first five are distinguished by originality and technology originally included in the software. The rest are derivatives, so to speak.
Here, in fact, we see what browsers are there for the computer. Of course, if you search well, you can “dig up” a huge number of relevant programs. It simply collected the most famous. And to say which is the fastest browser for the computer, you can very roughly. But starting from this point of view, it is necessary exclusively from those programs and technologies that are used, so to speak, by ancestors (the first five).
Now let's pay attention to the main programs that are currently used by most users for surfing the Internet . So let's try to choose the most popular browsers for the computer. The list, of course, will not be so long. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each application.
Internet Explorer 11
This program, although it is a standard integral element of any Windows OS, nevertheless has serious problems (especially with regard to security). And if at the very beginning of its evolution the priority of Internet Explorer popularity was not in doubt, then over time it fell almost to zero.
The browser itself has received quite a strong development only in recent years and, I must say, has shown quite serious and impressive results, beating its closest competitors - Google Chrome, Opera and Mozilla Firefox. At the moment, it boasts a fairly high speed on the Internet and a convenient interface. So why only units use it? Yes, just because the old stereotype is still strong. In addition, users are often repelled by a minimalist, even if fully Russified interface, in which additional settings and elements are not displayed on the main panel, but hidden in different menus. Nevertheless, these claims to many experts seem manifestly unfounded.
Google chrome
What are the browsers for a computer in Russian yet? There is no doubt that in this matter one cannot but mention Google Chrome, which not only became a legend, but also served as the ancestor of many other programs of this type.
Despite the same minimalism in design, it looks quite impressive from the point of view of convenience and speed of work. Basically, users in this program are attracted by the fact that it has a reliable security system. But the main "trick", many users call the built-in extension store, which allows you to install additional plug-ins (add-ons), which is called "without leaving the box office." In addition, today you can find quite a lot of programmers who use this browser as a development tool. In addition, here you can quickly jump to the search results directly from the query string.
Perhaps the most important minus, oddly enough, sounds like a plus. The fact is that he shows the optimal results of the speed of work, so to speak, only in a “pure” form. When there is an overflow of plugins and add-ons, alas, the speed of opening pages drops very much. But even if some tab “freezes”, you can calmly work with the rest in normal mode.
Chromium, Yandex Browser, Amigo and 360 Safety Browser
Now let's look at Chrome-like browsers for Windows. The list, of course, can be continued, but these four programs are perhaps the most prominent representatives of this family. In principle, they are made exclusively in the image and likeness of the ancestor, even menus and plug-ins often have the same name.
Each application has its own interesting aspects. Chromium compared to the original is really somewhat optimized for page opening speed. Amigo offers the user an interface with direct access to the most popular social networks like Odnoklassniki or VKontakte and the ability to quickly access a mailbox registered on Mail.ru.
Yandex Browser is called the "rising star of the Runet", however, to be honest, it is completely incomprehensible why. What repels many users is the default search engine parameters, and generally the dominance of Yandex services, which now and then install some additional panels, arrange unnecessary redirection. In general, it seems that the developers tried in this way to promote their main service on the network. But in terms of speed, you will not refuse him.
360 Safety Browser appeared relatively recently. This browser is a development of Chinese programmers and, unlike other Chinese fakes, the quality of which causes legitimate doubts, it works quite fast (at least at first, so for sure). The speed of launching the application itself and opening pages immediately after installation does not compare with anything. Even the "old people", as they say, simply "nervously smoke on the sidelines." Alas, this passes over time (however, as with all other programs). Later it will be explained why this is happening. But in general, this program looks, despite its youth, quite attractive. By the way, this is perhaps one of the few browsers with a built-in AdBlock pop-up blocking system (in other applications, the add-in needs to be installed additionally).
Opera
If we consider the best browsers for the computer, the list, of course, can not do without such a grandeur as Opera, which has become, so to speak, a classic of the genre. It is not surprising that in the usage statistics this browser has always occupied and still occupies the top lines.
But here you need to make a small digression. The fact is that Opera has long been unclaimed only because it was released as a shareware program, that is, you could work with it for 30 days, after which it was proposed to buy the official full-featured version of this software.
Only after Opera became free, she climbed the podium. But here it is not so simple. The fact is that today you can find too many modifications of this browser, and it is not always clear which one is official. For example, it is alleged that the latest release was numbered 15 and 16. Immediately on the official website you can find and download Opera 21, Opera Stable or Opera NI. What is the difference? Apparently, these releases are simply incomplete, and programmers are simply in a hurry to release new versions in order to keep up with the competition. In addition, the latest browser versions on weak machines obviously do not want to work. Braking and hovering is such that you are simply amazed. However, there are reasons for that. Perhaps the creators of "Opera" just create a browser for more powerful configurations, working, so to speak, ahead of the curve? Who knows…
Mozilla firefox
Again, if we describe the most popular browsers for PCs, the list cannot do without the “fire fox” - the Mozilla Firefox browser, which, if it does not claim to be the leading development in this area, is at least one of the most popular .
What is so special about it? Virtually everything. First of all, it is worth noting that many experts tend to accuse Google programmers of unethical behavior and dishonesty, because Chrome after its debut turned out to be very similar to Firefox. Like it or not, it’s believed that it was Mozilla’s browser that became the basis for Chrome.
As for the application itself, it is one of the most reliable and stable. Maybe the "fox" does not show too high a speed, in principle, he does not need it. First of all, this browser is aimed at web developers. Even the so-called “boxed" version already contains a lot of additional tools, and by the number of add-ons (which, by the way, are not even hundreds, but thousands), it will easily bypass the notorious Google Chrome. Webmasters rate this application quite high, if only because it is very convenient for writing scripts and testing their work, not to mention other, no less interesting features.
Safari
What other browsers are there for the computer? Have you seen any compass icons on the Internet? Yes, this is an indispensable attribute of the Safari browser from Apple, originally developed for Macintosh systems, and later implemented as a beautiful application for Windows.
Everything in it is extremely simple and beautiful. A distinctive feature of this application can be called a unique font smoothing system, as well as the ability to comfortably view large texts. Another innovation is the built-in password manager with an impenetrable security system. In general, security is considered one of the strengths of the "apple" software products. In general, this is a solidly made program optimized for the needs of an ordinary user.
Edge
Finally, if you look at what browsers there are for your computer, you can't help but say a few words about the latest Microsoft development called Edge, which first appeared in the new Windows 10 OS.
Although Edge is based on Internet Explorer technologies, the developers clearly revised their global concept and redesigned the original application quite strongly. As a result, a powerful software product appeared, which today is ahead of similar programs in almost all respects.
True, and here it was not without its "jokes." The fact is that by default the start page loads a bunch of unnecessary information such as news or new items in the software field, weather widgets, popular sites and resources on the bookmarks, all sorts of unnecessary interesting things, etc. Moreover, it’s the address page on the start page the line is not at the top, but a little lower and is presented as a kind of search field. Then, when clicking on the link, she returns to her rightful place. However, this is easy to get used to.
On the other hand, the speed of work here is quite high, which can not be said about similar applications, and the download speed, if there are no restrictions, say, when downloading content from file-sharing networks, is comparable even with torrents. But the program itself as a separate version is not yet available, so you can evaluate all its features and advantages only if you install the tenth version of Windows (by the way, it has two browsers: Edge and the same Internet Explorer, presented as a separate application ) But by default, the system uses Edge.
PC Browsers: Performance Test List
So, what browsers are there for the computer, we figured it out a bit. As for performance tests, they do not always look equivalent. It all depends on who exactly and what test was conducted. Quite often you can find the results in favor of a particular browser, which can only indicate an attempt to promote this software on the market. In addition, any browser as it becomes more and more sluggish. And this has absolutely nothing to do with cache overflow or visit history. The only exception is Edge. On some systems, the Safari browser is not affected.
But to say for sure which is the best browser for the computer is simply impossible. And it depends not only on the programs themselves, but also on the preferences of users. In addition, each program of this type has its advantages and disadvantages.Therefore, the question of which browser to choose for the computer, in most cases, the user has to decide for himself. The given test chart cannot show the objectivity of the assessment (here the preferences of the experts who performed the comparison also play a role). This, so to speak, is a conditional result for an approximate understanding of the situation.
What is the result?
Now, it’s probably a little clear what browsers are for the computer and what features they have. Again, giving advice on installing a particular software product is a completely thankless task, because each person has his own preferences. In addition, the browsers themselves can be focused on solving quite specific tasks, sometimes not even related to Internet surfing. Yes, you also need to consider what kind of "OS" is installed on the computer, what is the speed of Internet access, how much is the same RAM and many other, no less important factors. But if you are objective and don’t tip the scales in someone’s favor, it’s recommended to choose one of the first six browsers presented at the very beginning of the above list. The rest can be ignored fundamentally, since they are all derivatives of the main programs. However, here, as they say, everyone decides for himself what he likes and what is more convenient to work with.