Chapter 8

Web Browsers
 Web browsers

Web browser
– A short forweb browser, is the
browser, software that is used to search
application
explore websites.
for, reach and
The primary function of a web browser is to render
HTML code (the code used to design or "mark up"
webpages). Each time a web browser loads a web page
received from web server, it processes the HTML,
which may include text, links, and references to
images and other items, such as cascading style sheets
and JavaScript functions. The browser processes these
items, then renders them in the browser window.
 Web browsers

Basic Features of a good Web browser –

Speed - A browser should be able to quickly load webpages
including multimedia files, no matter how dynamic the
content. Nowadays images and videos dominate online
platforms which require too much data to be processed.
Simplicity - A browser should have easy and simple user
interface. The user interface shouldn’t take up a lot of
screen space, which would be better used for the content
that a user is trying to consume.
Security - Browsers should also be very secure, as there are
number of security threats available on internet, which can
lead to serious data breach and leakage
 Web browsers

Major functions of a typical Web browser –

 Send and receive internet resources
 Access web pages ,render and display
them
 Select and save our favorite pages
 Print documents
 Keep records of our activity
 Store information in the cloud
 Install applications
 Web browsers
How web browser works –
The User Interface: space where
User
interacts
The Browser
with theEngine:
browser.it queries and
manipulates the rendering engine
The Rendering Engine: It interprets the
HTML, XML documents and images as per
CSS and generates the lawet to display.
Networking:handles all aspects of Internet
communication & security using
http(s)/ftp.
JavaScript Interpreter: interprets and
executes the javascript code embedded in a
website.
UI Backend: for drawing basic widgets like
combo boxes and windows etc.
Data Persistence/Storage: It manages user
data such as cachVe,iscito:opkyitehso,
bo o k m ar ks a n d
 Web browsers

Commonly Used web browsers –

Google Chrome
Google Inc. has developed google chrome web browser. It is an open
and free source. It runs on different operating systems, like Microsoft
Windows, Mac OS X, Chrome OS, Linux, Android and iOS. It was
launched in 2008 and since then it has become the most popular web
browser in the world market. Google Chrome is very strong in its
application performance and JavaScript processing speeds. It allows
users to create local desktop shortcuts which will open the desired web
page quickly andsily.
Mozilla Firefox ea
This web browser is free and open, developed by the Mozilla
Corporation and the Mozilla Foundation in 2002. It works on Microsoft
Windows, Mac OS and Linux operating systems. Firefox features a
pop-up blocker, anti-phishing and anti-malware warnings, making it
 Web browsers

Commonly Used web browsers –

Apple Safari
This web browser is free and closed source, developed by Apple
Inc. It works on OS X, iOS, and Microsoft Windows operating
systems. Its market launch in 2003. Works on webkit to render
graphics and run javasript Safari is faster and more energy
efficient than other browsers

Internet Explore r
This web browser was developed by Microsoft Corporation,
integrated into the Microsoft Windows operating system in all
its versions. It was launched in 1995 and was the most popular
web browser until it was moved by Google Chrome in 2011.It
supports ad ons,improved security and power saving features
 Web browsers

Commonly Used web browsers –

Opera
Opera is a web browser developed by the company
Software. It is compatible with Microsoft
Opera
Windows and Mac OS
X operating systems mainly. Although it also works, in older
versions, on Linux. It was launched in 1995.It provide integrated
adblocker,faster with opera turbo,sidebar extension for
multitask.
 Web browsers
Google chrome browser settings –
1. No More Notification Requests -
chrome://settings/content/notifications
2. Get Around Ad Blocker Blocking - chrome://settings/content/javascript
3. Font and Sizing - chrome://settings/fonts
4. Review wer Passwords - chrome://settings/passwords
5. Customize wer Startup Pages - chrome://settings/onStartup
6. Send a Do Not Track Request - chrome://settings/privacy
7. Set Flash to Ask First - chrome://settings/content
8. Mic and Camera Access - chrome://settings/content
9.Send Reports to Google - chrome://settings/syncSetup
Resetting Chrome to Default Settings
If we ever break Chrome by accident and want to reset
everything, it’s super
easy. Scroll to the bottom of settings and click Advanced.
Then:
• On Mac, Chromebook, or Linux: Under Reset Settings, click Restore
Settings.
settings to their original defaults > Reset Settings.
 Web browsers

Mozilla firefox browser settings –

1. Homepage,font&color,downloads – //option/general
2. Searchbar and search engine - //option/search
3. Forms,passwords,history,cookies,security - //option/privacy and
security
4. Firefox account - //option/firefox account

Resetting Mozilla firefox to Default Settings

 Click the menu icon, then click on “Help”. Click on Firefox's main menu
button, represented by three horizontal lines. ...
 Click “Troubleshooting Information”. ...
 Click on “Refresh Firefox” ...
 Confirm. ...
 Click “Finish”.
 Web browsers

Internet explorer browser settings –

1. Homepage,browsing history ,appearance(font color)–
//tools/internet options/general
2. Security level for zones(internet,local internet,trusted sites,restricted
sites) -//tools/internet options/security
3. Privacy,popup blocker - //tools/internet options/privacy
4. Parental control,autocomplete- //tools/internet options/content
5. Setup internet connections - //tools/internet options/connections
6. Default web browser,add-ons- //tools/internet options/programs
7. Accessibilit,browsing,multimedia,security - //tools/inetnet
options/advanced/settings

Resetting Internet explorer to Default Settings

//tools/inetnet options/advanced/Reset
 Web browsers

Opera browser settings –

1. Homepage,popup,language - //settings /preferences/general
2. Password manager - //settings /preferences/forms
3. Search engine - //settings /preferences/search
4. Font,color,zoom - //settings /preferences/webpages
5. History,cookies,security,storage,network,notification- //settings
/preferences/advanced
Resetting Opera to Default Settings
• Close Opera and open
command prompt from the
start menu.
• Enter the following command
to remove the preferences file:
del
wiped.
%AppData%\Opera\Opera\
 Web browsers
Add-ons/Extensions
Add-ons are tools which integrate into our browser. They're similar
to regular apps or programs, but only run when the browser runs.
Add-ons can allow the viewing of certain types of Web content,
such as Microsoft's Silverlight necessary for Netflix movies.
How Add-ons Are Installed
There are two key ways in which add-ons become installed –
through an external installer and through the browser’s own add-
on service. The add-on service is the most reliable way of installing
an add-on, with the browser service providing a relative “vetting”
process for the general safety of the add-on. Outside programs can
also install add-ons in wer browser as part of its separate
installation process. Microsoft Office, for example, may place an
add-on which speeds up the in-browser opening of office
documents.
 Web browsers
How Add-ons Are Installed
There are two key ways in which add-ons become
installed – through an external installer and through the
browser’s own add-on service. The add-on service is the
most reliable way of installing an add-on, with the
browser service providing a relative “vetting” process for
the general safety of the add-on. Outside programs can
also install add-ons in wer browser as part of its separate
installation process. Microsoft Office, for example, may
place an add-on which speeds up the in-browser opening
of office documents.
 Web browsers
How to Remove Add-ons
Add-ons can be removed in one of two ways. Some
add-ons, particularly ones installed outside of the
browser, create an entry in the “Programs” portion
of the control panel. Removing these is done in
the same way we uninstall any other program.
Many add-ons, however, can only be removed
through the browser’s add-on manager.
 Web browsers
Add-ons manager in
• Google chrome - /more tools/extensions
• Mozilla firefox -/add-ons option or ctrl+shift+A
• Internet explorer - /tools/manage add-ons
• Opera
-
https://addons.opera.com/en/extensions/
 Web browsers
A plugin is a piece of software that acts as an add-on to a web
browser and gives the browser additional functionality.
Plugins can allow a web browser to display additional content
it was not originally designed to display. An example of a
plugin is the free Macromedia Flash Player, a plugin that
allows the web browser to display animations using the Flash
format.
Most plugins are available as free downloads. To install the
plugin, we visit the website of the plugin’s developer and click
on a link that will download the installer for the plugin we
have selected. we can save the installer to an easy to find
location such as the Desktop or a specific folder we have
created to organize all of our downloads. Once we have
downloaded the installer.
 Web browsers
Difference between add ons and plugins
Plug-in is a complete program and add-on is not a program.
For example Flash is a plug-in made by adobe is required to
play a video in flash player. Also Java is a plug-in made by Sun
Microsystem which is used to run programs based on Java.
Plug-in is not bounded for browsers only. Flash can be
installed in computers to play flash files. Similarly Java can be
installed to run Java files.
On the other hand add-on is not a complete program. It is
used to add a particular functionality to a browser. If we
suppose to install add-on on other work environment, say, wer
operating system, we can’t do it. It means, add-ons are limited
to a certain boundary.
 Web browsers
Cookies - are small bits of data stored as text files on a
browser. Websites use those small bits of data to keep track of
users and enable user-specific
What's in a Cookie?
Each cookie is effectively a small lookup table containing pairs
of (key, data) values. Once the cookie has been read by the
code on the server or client computer, the data can be
retrieved and used to customise the web page appropriately.
features.
Suppose we want to have a counter for a webpage to access it
three times only,this value can be stored over users computer
at first attempt it will be 1 then 2 and then 3 on next time
server will not allow to access that page.
 Web browsers

When are Cookies Created?

Writing data to a cookie is usually done when a new webpage
is loaded with code to create cookies.
Why are Cookies Used?
Cookies are a easiest way to carry information from one
session on a website to another, or between sessions on
related websites, without having to burden a server machine
with massive amounts of data storage. Storing the data on the
server without using cookies would also be problematic
because it would be difficult to retrieve a particular user's
information without requiring a login on each visit to the
website.
 Web browsers

How Long Does a Cookie Last?

The time of expiry of a cookie can be set through using server
site scripting language ,when the cookie is created. By default
the cookie is destroyed when the current browser window is
closed, but it can be made to persist for an arbitrary length of
time after that.
How Secure are Cookies?
Cookies are not a threat to privacy, since they can only be
used to store information that the user has volunteered or
that the web server already has.
 Web browsers

What are Tracking Cookies?

Some commercial websites may include embedded
advertising material which is served from a third-party sites,
and it is possible to store a cookie for that third-party site,
containing information fed to it from the containing site -
such information might include the name of the site,
particular products being viewed etc.Then third party can
advertise you in future with the help of tracking cookies.
Are Cookies Enabled in my Browser?
When a webpage with cookies is opened a popup appears to
enable cookies ,if browser setting is disabled for cookies.
We can also check it through browsers setting options.