browser - technical definition

Also known as Web browser. A client software program that runs against a Web server or other Internet server and enables a user to navigate the World Wide Web (WWW) to access and display data. Web browsers are built on the concept of hyperlinks on which a user can click with a mouse to jump from page to page, document to document, or even site to site. Browsers can download files, display graphics, play audio and video files, and execute programs.The first primitive text browser was developed by CERN in 1991. In 1993, the first graphical browsers appeared:Viola for X Windows, Mac browser from CERN, and Mosaic for X Windows. Early graphical browsers that also support hyperlinks include Archie, Gopher, Jughead, Veronica, and WAIS. Currently popular browsers include Internet Explorer (IE), Mozilla, and Netscape Navigator. See also Archie, CERN, client, Gopher, hyperlink, Internet, Internet Explorer, JUGHEAD, Mozilla, Netscape Navigator, server, software, Veronica, WAIS, and WWW.