Browsers are software applications used to access and view websites. The most common web browsers used today are Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Apple Safari, and Opera. But which of these is not actually a web browser?
What is a Web Browser?
A web browser is an application program that provides access to the World Wide Web. Browsers allow users to navigate between web pages, access online content, and display webpages. The main functions of a web browser include:
- Retrieving information from servers and displaying it on screen
- Rendering text, images, videos and other content
- Providing user interface controls to navigate between pages
- Maintaining history and managing bookmarks
- Caching pages for quicker loading
- Running web applications and extensions
The most popular modern browsers available today include Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge and Opera. These all provide the core functionality required of a web browser. Additional competing browsers with lower usage include Brave, Vivaldi, Tor and SeaMonkey. But browsers require constant maintenance and development to keep pace with new web standards and security threats. Not all software applications that display web content are full featured browsers though.
Major Web Browsers
Here is an overview of the major web browsers in use today:
Google Chrome
Google Chrome is the most widely used browser globally, with around 65% market share. It was first released in 2008. Chrome is fast, simple and secure. It is derived from the open source Chromium project and released under an open source license.
Mozilla Firefox
Firefox is an open source browser from Mozilla, first released in 2002. It has around 9% market share. Firefox stresses privacy, security and user customization. It is available across multiple platforms.
Microsoft Edge
Edge is the web browser developed by Microsoft, first released in 2015. It has around 7% market share. Edge replaced Internet Explorer as Microsoft’s default browser. It has integration with Windows 10 and Xbox. The new Chromium-powered Edge was rebuilt in 2019.
Apple Safari
Safari is developed by Apple and is the default browser on Mac OS and iOS devices. First released in 2003, it has around 19% market share. Safari pioneered tabbed browsing and emphasizes speed, simplicity and power efficiency.
Opera
Opera is a browser developed by Opera Software, first released in 1996. It has around 2% market share. Opera focuses on speed and privacy. It also has a built-in VPN service. Opera pioneered innovations such as tabbed browsing and speed dials.
Which is Not a Browser?
Based on the overview of major web browsers above, the application that stands out as not actually being a complete web browser is Microsoft EdgeHTML. This was the original rendering engine behind Microsoft Edge when it first launched in 2015.
EdgeHTML is not a full web browser, it is just the proprietary browser engine that powered the early versions of Edge. Web browsers all need an underlying rendering engine to parse and display web pages. Chrome uses Blink, Firefox uses Gecko, Safari uses WebKit.
Microsoft developed EdgeHTML as the replacement to their previous Trident engine used in Internet Explorer. However, in rebuilding Edge they decided to drop EdgeHTML in favor of switching to the open source Chromium browser engine in 2019, the same as used by Google Chrome.
So while Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Opera are all full modern browsers in their own right, EdgeHTML is just a now defunct browser engine. The full Microsoft Edge browser has continued forward built on top of the Chromium engine.
Major Browser Engines
Here is an overview of the major browser engines in use today:
| Browser Engine | Description |
|---|---|
| Blink | Open source browser engine developed by Google for Chrome. Derived from WebKit. |
| Gecko | Mozilla’s open source browser engine used in Firefox. Written in C++. |
| WebKit | Open source layout engine developed by Apple for Safari. Derived from KHTML. |
| EdgeHTML | Proprietary browser engine developed by Microsoft for early Edge browser. No longer used. |
| Trident | Proprietary browser engine developed by Microsoft for Internet Explorer. |
As can be seen above, the major browsers utilize open source browser engines like Blink, Gecko and WebKit. But EdgeHTML was a proprietary engine specifically made just for Microsoft’s needs. When Microsoft moved to Chromium in 2019, further development of the EdgeHTML engine was ended.
Conclusion
Of the common web browsers in use today – Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari and Opera – the one that is not actually a complete browser is Microsoft’s old proprietary EdgeHTML engine. While the others are full featured cross-platform web browsers, EdgeHTML was just a browser engine that powered early versions of Edge.
When Microsoft rebuilt Edge on top of Chromium, they effectively replaced their own EdgeHTML with the open source Blink engine from Google. So EdgeHTML stands out as the browser-related technology mentioned that is not a complete web browser in itself.
To summarize:
- Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera = Full Web Browsers
- Blink, Gecko, WebKit = Open Source Browser Engines
- EdgeHTML = Proprietary Browser Engine (Not a Browser)
Therefore, of the options compared, EdgeHTML is not actually a full functioning web browser, just a discontinued browser engine.
The browser market continues to evolve, with new contenders and browser engines emerging. But the core functionality that defines a web browser remains consistent. Users have several solid options to choose from based on their needs and preferences. And open source browser engines like Blink and Gecko provide robust foundations for building competitive browsers.
So when considering the landscape of web browsing software, EdgeHTML stands out as the legacy engine that never became a full browser. The leading options like Chrome, Firefox and Safari show the complete package required for modern web browsing.
Testing and experimenting with new browsers keeps the market moving forward. But at the core, having a properly functioning browser engine is key to powering the full experience users expect. The rise and fall of EdgeHTML illustrates what happens when proprietary software fails to keep up with open collaboration driving innovation.
While legacy engines fade away, the full featured browsers live on. The underlying technology may change, but users just want software that delivers a dependable, secure and customizable browsing experience. The continued success of browsers like Firefox and the dominance of Chrome highlight the importance of having an open engine capable of evolving over time.
So when looking at the state of web browsers today, EdgeHTML is the odd one out – not a true browser at all, just an abandoned engine that didn’t stand the test of time.
The complete browsing experience relies on an engine up to the challenge. EdgeHTML couldn’t deliver like Blink, Gecko and WebKit powering the leading browsers could. And with robust options available, users didn’t have to settle for less.
In the end, the failure of EdgeHTML as an engine shows the advantage of open source collaboration on core browser technology. The full picture of a web browser requires far more than a proprietary engine. EdgeHTML never became a browser that could compete with the top choices available. So when identifying applications that enable web browsing, EdgeHTML does not make the cut.
The complete package of a real web browser requires an engine capable of evolving with the web. EdgeHTML couldn’t cut it, so Microsoft had to drop it. This again demonstrates that a browser is only as good as its engine. If the foundation falls behind, the software built on top can’t deliver either.
So in considering browser related technologies, it is clear why EdgeHTML is the odd one out here. It was destined to fail because it lacked the full functionality required of a real web browser. Proprietary software alone can’t keep up in powering a capable browsing experience over time. EdgeHTML serves as a cautionary tale of what happens when not innovating in an open, collaborative way.
Microsoft learned their lesson and had to rebuild Edge on Chromium. There was no saving the ineffective EdgeHTML engine. While real browsers endure, half-baked engines inevitably reach their limits. So when identifying what powers web browsing, it is clear EdgeHTML does not stand alongside the fully featured browsers available today. The also-rans lacking key functionality eventually fade away.