Browser
A software program that allows a person to explore the Internet in an easy to use way. Navigating the Internet through a series of links the user is able to 'browse' the Internet. Examples of popular
browsers are Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Opera.
In the picture to the right, is an example of Mozilla Firefox 1.0.7 Internet
browser.
Each browser has a navigation toolbar like the one shown below. This navigation bar is the most essential portion of the browser. Below is a basic explanation of buttons most commonly used.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0
Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.02 navigation bar
Back - Used to visit the previous page that referred you to the page you are currently located at. This button is likely going to be the button you use the most while browsing on the Internet and as shown above is a large arrow pointing to the left.
Forward - Like the back button this button moves you forward a page. If you have not gone back you will be unable to go forward and this button will likely be grayed out as seen above. Often this button is seldom used.
Hold down
the Ctrl key while pressing the left arrow to go back or the right arrow to
go forward.
Stop - Stop the loading of a website, this button may need to be used if the page is taking to long to load or is having problems loading. If the page has not started loading the browser window may be blank. If this is the case you can either try refreshing the page or clicking the back button.
Press their esc key
at any time to stop loading a page.
Refresh (Reload) - Most Internet browsers cache web pages so you do not have to download the full page each time you visit it. On some pages it may be required that you press the refresh button to get the latest version of the web page. This button is also commonly used to reload a page that may have aborted due to an error.
Press the F5 key to refresh the page
from the keyboard.
Home - Go back to your default web page. This is the same page that loads when your browser loads.
Search - Open your default search page or search for text found in the Address or URL text field. Most current browsers today now have a search bar integrated into the search engine and browsers such as Google Chrome use the address bar as the search bar and address bar.
Favorites - View or visit a website in your favorites list. The term "Favorites" is used with Microsoft Internet Explorer, in other browsers this may be known as book marks or a hotlist.
Print - Print the page you are currently on. This option is not always available and is commonly accessed by clicking on the "File" drop down menu.
Font (Size) - Increase / Decrease the size of a font.
Mail - Open your e-mail program.
Below is an explanation of other options that you may seen in the browser window that are not seen in the above illustration.
Edit - Edit the web page you are currently viewing in a HTML editor.
Full Screen - Make the browser window full screen removing all of the toolbars. Often this option is entered and exited by pressing the F11 key on your keyboard.
History - View the history of pages that have been visited since the browser history was last cleared or created.
The
shortcut key for history for most browsers is Ctrl+H.
- How do I clear my Internet browser history?
- How to determine your browser, browser version, and installed browser plugins.
- Can I have more than one Internet browser installed?
- Internet browsers help and support.
Also see: ActiveX, Address bar, BHO, Bookmark, Browse, Cookie, Cross-browser, Internet, Internet definitions, Konqueror, Lynx, Mosaic, Netscape, Plug-In, SeaMonkey, Tabbed browsing