The following pages provide information and statistics on the most popular web browsers. Some words in the pages are linked to provide access to further information. The content is aimed at Internet users. The easy-to-understand technical descriptions and wording make the content suitable for beginners and advanced Internet users.

Recent years have witnessed a continuous erosion of the Microsoft Internet Explorer share in the web browser market, mainly induced by the continuous gains of Mozilla Firefox, an open source software product. This tendency would seem to contradict the well-established belief that in a standards battle 'the strong grow stronger while the weak grow weaker'. The objective of this study is to explain the evolution of web browsers through the analysis of the competitive relationship between the main players in this ongoing battle. We examine two standards battles: first, Netscape versus Microsoft, followed by the more recent battle between Microsoft and Mozilla. The analysis contributes to the understanding of standard battles in the context of open source software. It will be argued that some characteristics of Open Source Firefox, such as the semi-open development approach and the involvement of commercial companies, partially explain the rise of this web browser. Lock-in mechanisms, which historically have been reported to be dominant factors in standards battles, seem to have little impact in the context of open source software. Full paper available at https://doi.org/10.1080/00076791.2010.499431.

The World Wide Web has now been in use for more than 20 years. From early browsers to today’s principal source of information, entertainment and much else, the Web is an integral part of our daily lives, to the extent that some people believe ‘if it’s not online, it doesn’t exist.’ While this statement is not entirely true, it is becoming increasingly accurate, and reflects the Web’s role as an indispensable treasure trove. It is curious, therefore, that historians and social scientists have thus far made little use of the Web to investigate historical patterns of culture and society, despite making good use of letters, novels, newspapers, radio and television programmes, and other pre-digital artefacts.This volume argues that now is the time to ask what we have learnt from the Web so far. The 12 chapters explore this topic from a number of interdisciplinary angles – through histories of national web spaces and case studies of different government and media domains – as well as an introduction that provides an overview of this exciting new area of research.

Two Web insiders who were employees of CERN in Geneva, where the Web was developed, tell how the idea for the World Wide Web came about, how it was developed, and how it was eventually handed over at no charge for the rest of the world to use. 20 illustrations.

In “Web Browsers,” delve into the fascinating evolution and pivotal role of web browsers in shaping our digital experiences. This comprehensive guide begins with the inception of the first browser, WorldWideWeb, and chronicles the rise of iconic browsers like Netscape Navigator, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. Explore the intricacies of browser architecture, from rendering engines to JavaScript engines, and understand how webpages are rendered seamlessly on your screen. The book highlights major web browsers, examining Google Chrome's market dominance and integration with Google services, Mozilla Firefox’s commitment to privacy and open-source development, Microsoft Edge’s transition from Internet Explorer, Apple Safari’s optimization for Apple devices, and Opera’s unique features catering to niche markets. Discover the innovations that have revolutionized browsing, including extensions, progressive web apps (PWAs), cross-device integration, and performance enhancements. Learn about the importance of web standards, the role of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), and the significance of browser compatibility. Delve into privacy and security, with insights into tracking prevention, security patches, and user data control. The book also explores the rise of mobile browsing, key players in the mobile market, and the impact of PWAs. Finally, envision the future of web browsers with emerging trends, AI and machine learning integration, and the potential of quantum computing in transforming web browsing. “Web Browsers” is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the technology that connects us to the vast digital world.

How prepared are you to build fast and efficient web applications? This eloquent book provides what every web developer should know about the network, from fundamental limitations that affect performance to major innovations for building even more powerful browser applications—including HTTP 2.0 and XHR improvements, Server-Sent Events (SSE), WebSocket, and WebRTC. Author Ilya Grigorik, a web performance engineer at Google, demonstrates performance optimization best practices for TCP, UDP, and TLS protocols, and explains unique wireless and mobile network optimization requirements. You’ll then dive into performance characteristics of technologies such as HTTP 2.0, client-side network scripting with XHR, real-time streaming with SSE and WebSocket, and P2P communication with WebRTC. Deliver superlative TCP, UDP, and TLS performance Speed up network performance over 3G/4G mobile networks Develop fast and energy-efficient mobile applications Address bottlenecks in HTTP 1.x and other browser protocols Plan for and deliver the best HTTP 2.0 performance Enable efficient real-time streaming in the browser Create efficient peer-to-peer videoconferencing and low-latency applications with real-time WebRTC transports

The past 50 years have witnessed a revolution in computing and related communications technologies. The contributions of industry and university researchers to this revolution are manifest; less widely recognized is the major role the federal government played in launching the computing revolution and sustaining its momentum. Funding a Revolution examines the history of computing since World War II to elucidate the federal government's role in funding computing research, supporting the education of computer scientists and engineers, and equipping university research labs. It reviews the economic rationale for government support of research, characterizes federal support for computing research, and summarizes key historical advances in which government-sponsored research played an important role. Funding a Revolution contains a series of case studies in relational databases, the Internet, theoretical computer science, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality that demonstrate the complex interactions among government, universities, and industry that have driven the field. It offers a series of lessons that identify factors contributing to the success of the nation's computing enterprise and the government's role within it.