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3.2 Getting the Most From

Your Browser

You now know all the various ways you can access the Internet. However, you may not be
aware of the many features of the browser you use to access the World Wide Web. Your
browser lets you access your online class, keep up with the latest world news, watch videos,
play games, use social media, and more. Typically available for free, the browser is the gate-
way to everything you might want to do online.

Like the debates about which computer is best, people often have strong opinions about
which browser they like best. As we discuss later in this section, it is a good idea to have more
than one browser on your computer anyway, as a backup to your favorite one.

All browsers connect to the web in a similar way; the differences between them usually
boil down to whether you like the interface—the look and feel of the browser, how easy
it is for you to use it to navigate the web, the special features it offers, and the reliability
and speed of that browser on your computer. The article at http://articles.centennialarts
.com/2012/06/08/comparison-on-all-major-web-browsers-internet-explorer-safari
-firefox-and-google-chrome discusses the opinions of one writer about different browsers.

The list on the next page shows some of the most common browsers used today. Note that
Ashford University Technology Requirements mandate that you use one of the first four
browsers on the list.

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