Browsers

Browsers

If you're looking for browsers or browser extensions, CNET Download.com has you covered. We feature all the latest versions of Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, and more, as well as Firefox extensions, Internet Explorer add-ons, even RSS readers. If you want to surf the Web, CNET Download.com is the place to start. See all 4,414 products in this category.

for the week of: February 07Downloads

1.
Mozilla Firefox
Web Browsers90,675
2.
Flash Player
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins72,128
3.
Internet Explorer
Web Browsers54,266
4.
Google Chrome
Web Browsers40,096
Microsoft Web Platform Installer

Download and install WordPress in just minutes for Windows.

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5.
Avant Browser
Web Browsers38,769
6.
Opera
Web Browsers14,401
7.
ieSpell
Internet Explorer Add-ons & Plugins11,590
Sonic PDF Creator

Convert any Windows file to a secure PDF document.

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8.
Flash Player
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins9,044
9.
SlimBrowser
Web Browsers8,031
10.
Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer Add-ons & Plugins7,674

See all most popular software

System Surveillance Pro

Monitor PC activity by logging websites, keystrokes and chats.

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Release date

Ad Block Lite Feb 10
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
Print Friendly Feb 10
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
hashr Feb 10
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
Confirm Close Feb 10
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
Rainy Mood Feb 10
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
SearchPad Feb 10
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
QueenAlice Chrome Extension Feb 10
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
Price Compare Feb 10
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
iHTTP Feb 10
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
Bit.ly Shortener for Chrome Feb 10
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins

See all new releases

1.
Mozilla Firefox
Surf the Web, block pop-ups, and keep spyware at bay with a lean and fast open-source browser.
2.
Internet Explorer
Browse the Web with tabs, improved RSS support, and robust security features.
3.
Opera
Browse faster with Turbo, Speed Dial, mouse gestures, and spell checker.
4.
Maxthon (Classic)
Surf the Net with pop-up filtering, tabbed navigation, and automatic page-scrolling.
5.
SlimBrowser
Browse multiple Web sites in one window with a pop-up blocker, ad filter, and quick-search features.
6.
Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer
Update your IE browsing experience with Google gadgets, AutoFill, translation, saved settings, and synchronized bookmarks.
7.
Yahoo Toolbar with Anti Spyware
Search the Web from anywhere, block pop-ups or spyware, and get one-click access to your mail.
8.
Xnews
Try this NewsXpress-like newsreader.
9.
Google Chrome
Browse the Web Google-style.
10.
Apple Safari
Browse the Web with speed and an elegant interface.

See all editor's picks

an introduction to Browsers

Browsers, often called Web browsers, are software clients that allow users to navigate to sites on the World Wide Web. The majority of these Web sites use the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), but many browsers can also interpret other protocols, including FTP, RSS, and P2P protocols such as BitTorrent. Hypertext pioneer Tim Berners-Lee created the first ever Web browser, WorldWideWeb, in 1990, but the software didn't become popular until the release of NCSA Mosaic, the first graphical client.

Browsers truly hit the mainstream with the launch of Netscape Navigator, which was later shortened to simply Netscape, though the free client's popularity was radically affected by the 1995 release of Internet Explorer, Microsoft's entry into the browser market. In the years since, IE has completely dominated the market, only recently losing ground to alternative browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Opera.

Aside from general Web browsers, various subsets of the category offer special services. Offline browsers cache content from the Internet for future reference when you're not connected to a network. Newsreaders manage content from Usenet newsgroups and syndicated feeds.

In recent years, the open-source browser Mozilla Firefox has earned praise for the ability of third-party developers to easily create extensions that add functionality. Among the thousands of home-brewed add-ons for Firefox, we've narrowed down our favorites in a collection of the best. The Microsoft browser also allows for IE add-ons, but its closed framework makes it a bit more difficult for developers.

from the download blog

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an introduction to Browsers