Browsers

"Are you running Netscape, Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox?" "Are you ready for Shockwave, Flash, Java and Ajax ?" " Do you have Windows Media Player, RealMedia, or QuickTime?"

Viewing Web sites can be a daunting experience for some. Early web browsers supported only a very simple version of HTML. Rapid development of proprietary web browsers have led to the development of non-standard versions of HTML, which has in turn led to problems with Web interoperability. Today's modern web browers support standards-based HTML and XHTML, which generally display the same across all browers.

Some of the more popular browsers include additional components to support Usenet news, IRC (Internet relay chat), and e-mail. Protocols supported may include NNTP (network news transfer protocol), SMTP (simple mail transfer protocol), IMAP (Internet message access protocol), and POP3 (post office protocol). These browsers are often referred to as Internet suites or application suites rather than merely web browsers.

Every current Web browser has individual quirks and characteristics: Some HTML tags will only work on certain browsers; the same is true of certain Internet-specific applications and plug-in extensions,software that expands the capabilities of your browser.

Browsers aplenty

For the casual Web cruiser, paranoia sets in: You realize that the ability to view Web sites has turned into an unfriendly, have-and-have-not browser battle. What's a savvy surfer to do?

First, you must choose from a variety of browsers. Without question, four of the most widely used (and capable) browsers are Netscape Navigator(AOL), Mozilla Firefox, Opera and Internet Explorer.

A rapid pace of change

Different browsers can be distinguisehd from each other by the features they support. Modern browsers and web pages tend to utilize many features and techniques that did not exist in the early days of the web. The following is a list of some of the most notable features:

SUPPORTED STANDARDS:

HTTP and HTTPS

HTML, XML, XHTML

Graphics file formats - GIF, PNG, JPG, TIF

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)

Javascript (DHTML)

Cookies

Digital certificates

Favicons

RSS, Atom

BASIC FEATURES:

Bookmarking of favorite sites

Caching of visited pages (speeds page loading upon subsequent visits)

Support of various multi-media types such as Flash, QuickTime, ColdFusion

USABILITY/ACCESS FEATURES:

Auto-completion of URLs and form data (which can be enable/disabled)

Tabbed browsing (most browsers; eliminates multiple open windows)

Screen readers/full speech support

ANNOYANCES REMOVERS:

Pop-up blockers

Spam/Advertising filters

Defense against phishing (e-mail spam tactic)

When it comes right down to it, most browsers offer nearly the same functionality as all of the others. A different look, feel and layout constitutes the biggest differences. You as the 'end-user' will find one that suits you best and that is most comfortable and accomodating, much like your favorite pair of jeans!