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Science & Tech.
Mahesh

15/12/23 07:39 AM IST

How do web browsers work?

In News
  • Web browsers are our digital passports to the vast universe of the internet.
Web Browsers
  • The browser is an application that people use to send and receive messages via the internet.
  • In other words, the browser is a program that runs on your device, with its purpose being to fetch information in different formats from the internet and show it on the device.
  • It also does the reverse, receiving your input (say, a click), translating it to code, and transmitting it to some other machine across the internet.
Invention
  • In the early 1990s, the internet was a fledgling entity, largely text-based and navigated through little pieces of code typed out and transmitted to machines somewhere else, waiting for them to respond.
  • Then, in 1990, the English computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee introduced the concept of the World Wide Web, and with it came the first web browser, also named ‘WorldWideWeb’. It didn’t just display web pages; it also allowed users to edit them.
  • By 2000, IE had emerged as the dominant browser, due in large part to its integration with the Windows operating system.
  • Firefox’s arrival reinvigorated competition and set new standards for user-friendly browsing.
  • In 2008, Google launched Chrome, which swiftly gained in popularity for its speed and minimalist design. Like browsers past, Chrome’s success also revitalised the browser market and encouraged innovation across the board.
Components of browser
  • Request and response – When you enter a website’s address (in the form of the Uniform Resource Locator, or URL) into your browser’s address bar or when you click a link, you set in motion a sequence of digital communication. The browser sends a request to a server, asking for the contents of the specific web page you’re interested in.
  • This request travels through a network of servers, like dispatching a letter through a series of post offices. Upon reaching the server, the request is received and processed.
  • The server then formulates a response containing the information (or data) required to construct the web page. This response embarks on its journey back to your browser, carrying the digital blueprint for the page you requested.
Deconstructing the response –
  • The response from the server is not a singular entity. Instead, it is an amalgam of various files. Typically, these files have information encoded in three languages: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Each set of information plays a pivotal role in shaping the final presentation of the web page.
  • HTML, short for Hypertext Markup Language, provides the architectural blueprint of a webpage. Similar to the skeletal framework of a building, made with iron bars, bricks, and cement, HTML defines the structure of the page, outlining elements like headings, paragraphs, images, and links.
  • Rendering – With HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in hand, a browser begins the process of rendering. This involves deciphering the HTML to understand the structural arrangement, applying CSS for stylistic finesse, and executing JavaScript to infuse interactivity. (You can deconstruct the final result on a webpage by right-clicking on the page and selecting ‘Inspect’.)
  • This process is remarkably swift, assembling the final webpage and presenting it to the user in a cohesive and visually appealing manner in much less than a second, depending on the amount of data.
  • Managing data – Browsers serve as adept custodians of your digital footprint, so they also implement instruments like cookies and cache to enhance your online experience.
  • Cookies are small snippets of data stored on your computer by websites you visit. Think of them as digital post-it notes. They retain information such as login status, site preferences, and shopping cart contents.
  • This allows you to navigate seamlessly, without having to re-login to a site when you close and reopen it in a short span of time.
  • Security – Web browsers are also sentinels that guard your digital sanctuary. They use an array of security measures to protect your data as they fly between your computer to various servers, via the internet, and even when they’re stored on your computer itself.
  • They do this by using encryption protocols, such as HTTPS, to create secure ‘tunnels’ for data exchange shielding the information from prying eyes.
  • Browsers also use warning systems to alert you about potentially malicious websites, preventing inadvertent exposure to threats.
Way forward
  • Web browsers are the unsung heroes of our digital endeavours, translating code into the dynamic web pages that form the backbone of our online experiences.
  • By unravelling the intricate tapestry of processes that underlie their operation, we gain a newfound appreciation for the seamless magic they conjure with every click.
Source- The Hindu

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