Internet Browsers Basics

What is an Internet browser?

An internet browser is a software program that enables a user to view websites and other internet files. The default browser on PCs is Internet Explorer, designated by "the blue E". The default browser on Macs is Safari. However, there are many other internet browsers available, such as Firefox and Chrome.

Which one should I use?

You will probably need to use multiple browsers, depending on what you're accessing. For this course it is recommend that you use Firefox. Visit the pages below to more about a specific browsers, including installation instructions.
  1. Firefox: a great browsers for most tasks - Firefox adheres to current web standards, but isn't cutting edge; most websites will work well in Firefox.
  2. Chrome: a very fast browser built by Google, therefore works well with Google Apps. However, because it is more cutting edge, Chrome will not work well with older websites. You will need Google Chrome in order to use Google Apps offline.
  3. Internet Explorer: a bloated and outdated browser, IE is not recommend for general use. If you are required to use IE for a specific website, try using the IE Tab add-on instead, which is available for both Firefox and Chrome.

Getting to Know Your Browser

Firefox

 

Chrome

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Last modified: Monday, February 13, 2012, 2:12 PM