Web Browsers

Definition
A browser is the tool that you use to view internet sites. Each browser will pick up the coding from a site and display it to you in a certain way. This means that your browser is basically the frame of your internet. It builds a frame arounnd each page. For example, this frame usually includes a bookmarks/favorite tab, the minimize and close buttons, a scrollbar (in some browsers such as IE there is a standard scrollbar if the webmaster did not create one; while if there is a pre-made scrollbar coding on the site your viewing it shows that scrollbar instead) and so forth. Just the basic things you need to function your internet. Now, different browsers have different benifts. One may display the graphics faster, while the other has a more customized "frame" and so forth.

The Roots
The first official browser was Mosaic Browser, which was opened to the public in 1993. However, over time there are two leading browsers: Netscape and Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer is the more traditional version, though Netscape is gaining on popularity. Incase you were wondering, Mozilla and Firefox are both subdivisions of Netscape. Firefox was released in 2004 and was the first Netscape browser to really make compition of IE (Internet Explorer). Both Microsoft (creators of IE) and Netscape are constantly upgrading and updating their browsers. In December 2006 IE6 held 45% of the market, IE7 10% and Firefox 30%. However, there is a steady increase in the demand for firefox. At the same time one year ago, IE held 60% and firefox only a thrid of that with 20%.

....sooo?
You ask ^^. Well, it actually makes a big difference what browser(s) you use, especially when coding. For example, the Neo-Reality homepage was coded using Internet Explorer. This means, it looks a lot better in IE than it does in Firefox. Its generally better to have Internet Explorer for the simple reason that I have yet to find a site that doesn't agree with IE (looks odd on it), but a good percentage of sites look either totally messed up, or at least not as good in Firefox. If your a graphic coder, I strongly suggest that you get both browsers and look through all your coding on both to make sure it looks acceptable.

Getting the browsers
You can go here to download the newest version of Internet Explorer. The download is simple and should cause you no problems. Remember, if you don't want IE to be your "normal" browser, uncheck "set as start up browser" or something of the like (mines in german so thats a rough translation).

You can click the above image link to download Firefox. Same applies here about the "start up browser". Remember to ask your parents before installing anything!