Web browsers and Social media applications are common ways to use the Internet. Privacy and speed are the two main considerations of peoples when choosing a browser. The size of the web browser market was 4.4 billion users in 2019. The market share of web browsers in 2021 is given below.
The software application used for accessing the information resources on World Wide Web is called a web browser. We can search for resources such as video, image, web page, or other content through using a web browser. The hyperlinks in resources make it simple for users to navigate the browsers to concerned resources. Let us discuss about the most popular web browsers and market share of web browsers.
Web browsers and Social media applications are common ways to use the Internet. It is quite clear that most peoples use the Internet through web browsers installed on various devices. It includes desktop, mobile, tablet and smart TV, etc. The graph of Internet users is increasing day by day.
As well as the risk of being attacked by spammers, malware, and other phishing activities, are increasing. So, it is important to use a reliable and secure web browser to protect our digital credentials such as security codes, passwords, tracking information, etc. and other personal information.
Most popular web browsers
Privacy and speed are the two main considerations of peoples when choosing a browser. Some browsers require more of your system resources, but others are lightweight. Also, some browsers provide complete suites of security tools to protect our online identity, but others allow ads and cookies to run smoothly. Some of the popular web browsers are given below.
1. Google chrome
Google Chrome is a multi-platform web browser created by Google. Chrome was first released for Microsoft Windows in 2008. Later, it was ported to macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. You can drag and drop tabs into separate windows without complication. Google Chrome has a basic and simple design that makes it easy to use.
By 2013, Google Chrome had overtaken Internet Explorer and Mozilla's Firefox in popularity and became the dominant browser. Chrome is a very fast web browser. It loads and shows pages very rapidly. This browser is a key component of Chrome OS. In there, it acts as a platform for web applications.
Safari is developed by Apple. It is a graphical web browser based on the WebKit engine. It is released in 2003. Since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007, a mobile version has been presented with iOS devices. In Apple devices, it is the default browser. The version for Windows was available from 2007 to 2012.
Application developers say that Safari is at the forefront of other popular web browsers such as Google and Opera in terms of site loading speed. Safari prevents suspicious files and pop-ups. Also, it offers reliable protection of the system from malicious internet pages.
3. Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is a free open source web browser developed by the Mozilla Foundation and its affiliate Mozilla Corporation. The Firefox has a Gecko layout engine that is used to render web pages that meet current and expected web standards. Also, it has a minimalist interface. Firefox was released in 2002.
Mozilla Firefox has more intuitive navigation. Firefox started integrating new technology under the code name Quantum in 2017 to promote a more intuitive user interface and parallelism. Firefox is available for Linux, Windows 7, and macOS. Also, it is available for iOS and android.
4. Microsoft Edge
Edge is a multi-platform web browser. It was developed by Microsoft in 2015. It was first released for Xbox One and Windows 10. In 2017, the version for iOS and Android is released. Later, in 2019, they developed a version for macOS. Edge is integrated with Cortana. It doesn't support BHO Technologies and ActiveX. Microsoft Edge replaced Internet Explorer and became the default web browser on Xbox One console, and Windows 10.
The Opera web browser is developed by Opera software in 1995. It is a freeware web browser for macOS, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Linux, and Android operating systems. Opera has some features including pop-up blocking, speed dial, recently reopening closed pages, tabbed browsing, and private browsing. Also, it contains a download manager and bookmarks bar. There are three mobile versions. It includes Opera Mini, Opera Mobile, and Opera Touch. They released a gaming browser named Opera GX on June 11, 2019.
6. Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer is a web browser developed by Microsoft in 1995. Once, Internet Explorer was the most used web browser among web browsers. It had a usage share of 95% in 2003. The operating systems such as Android and iOS do not support Internet Explorer. After the launching of Firefox and Google Chrome, the usage share of Internet Explorer has declined. The increase in popularity of iOS and android was another reason. In 2016, Microsoft stopped developing a new feature for the browser.
Current market share of web browsers
The size of the web browser market was 4.4 billion users in 2019. The short-term impact of COVID-19 on the growth of the web browser market is probably small. Because, the users will continue to browse the internet even when they are working from home. Also, the long-term impact of COVID-19 on the growth of the web browser market will be small, as access to the Internet is required for all businesses. The market share of web browsers in 2020 is given below.
The web browser market is focused on a few vendors. Google Chrome is leading in the web browser industry with a market share of 65.99% in August 2020. Safari is in the second position with a market share of 16.82%. Firefox got the third position. It has a market share of 4.09%. Samsung internet has a market share of 3.47%. Microsoft Edge has 2.3%. Also, Opera has 2.09%.
The web browser industry is a large market with a few big competitors. Chrome's popularity arises from the widespread use of the Google search engine. In Android devices, Google Chrome is the default browser. Safari is a product of Apple. It is pre-installed on all Apple devices, including iPads, iPhones, and Macs. Mozilla Firefox is an open-source browser that carefully handling user's data with a focus on privacy.
The number of devices able to run a web browser is increasing. Now, all types of IoT devices and gadgets can be used to browse the internet. Web browsers are often pre-installed on devices. So companies with their own web browsers like Google Chrome and Apple's Safari which sell the most devices can keep the largest market share in the web browser industry.
What is the definition of a web browser?
Web Browser is referred to as a software application for accessing information on the World Wide Web. The function of the web browser is to retrieve the information requested by the user from any website.
What are the commonly used browsers today?
The most popular web browsers are Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge (formerly Internet Explorer), Mozilla Firefox, and Apple's Safari. If you have a Windows computer, Microsoft Edge (or its older counterpart, Internet Explorer) is already installed on your computer.
What is the best browser of 2021?
The Best Web Browsers of 2021 By Category.
- The Best Web Browser: Opera.
- The Best for Mac (and Runner Up) – Google Chrome.
- The Best Browser for Mobile – Opera Mini.
- The Fastest Web Browser – Vivaldi.
- The Most Secure Web Browser – Tor.
- The Best and Coolest Browsing Experience: Brave.
Which browser is most used in world?
The following tables summarize the usage share of all browsers for the indicated months.
Browsers are part of our daily lives. It helps us to do our tasks more effectively and efficiently. Irrespective of what type of browser the company provides the user needs browsers that are trustworthy, secure and reliable. Privacy matters a lot. Any data leaks can hamper the image of the web browsers. There are so many browsers that guarantee privacy but the question that should be asked is. How secure they are? Data leaks are common nowadays. Is it affecting the lives of the user? Can the web browsers trusted nowadays?