Define: Browser

Browser: A browser is a software application that provides users with a way to view and interact with information on the Internet. The word "browser" seems to have originated prior to the Web. Originally, it was a generic term for user interfaces that let you browse (navigate through and read) text files online. Technically, a web browser is a client program that uses the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) to make requests to Internet web servers on behalf of the browser user. Most browsers offer support for File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and even support their own built-in email clients.

Mosaic, created in 1993, was the first web browser with a graphical user interface. Today, there are a number of different browsers available. Netscape Communicator, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla, are all examples of browsers that operate under the Windows O/S. Lynx is a text-only browser available for Linux/Unix users. Another recently offered and well-regarded browser is Opera.



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