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 3,941 products in this category.

for the week of: December 20Downloads

1.
Mozilla Firefox
Web Browsers84,827
2.
Flash Player
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins69,131
3.
Avant Browser
Web Browsers56,438
4.
Internet Explorer
Web Browsers55,483
Microsoft Visual Sudio

Improve efficiency with Visual Studio® 2010 Beta 2

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5.
SlimBrowser
Web Browsers32,423
6.
Google Chrome
Web Browsers26,048
7.
Opera
Web Browsers15,252
Mac Starter Kit

Everything you need to get your Mac up to speed.

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8.
ieSpell
Internet Explorer Add-ons & Plugins8,031
9.
Flash Player
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins7,871
10.
Mozilla Firefox
Web Browsers6,702

See all most popular software

CaptureWizPro

Capture screen images, video and audio

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Release date

YouTube Logo Middle-Click Extension Dec 24
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
FriendFeed Chrome Dec 24
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
New Tab to Tasks Dec 24
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
Gmail Notes Dec 24
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
Torrent2exe Dec 24
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
An Old Calculator Dec 24
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
BuiltWith Technology Profiler Dec 24
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
Twitit Dec 24
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
Simply Delicious Dec 24
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
SMIT Dec 24
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.
Apple Safari
Browse the Web with speed and an elegant interface.
10.
Maxthon
Surf the Internet using a browser with various features.

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.

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an introduction to Browsers