Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Web Browser Features
At the top level of the networking model, applications run that manage and display Internet
data. A web browser is one of the most important applications, enabling users to browse
and search the Web.
The Strata objectives require that you become familiar with several specifi c features of
a web browser. Understanding these features makes you better able not only to use a web
browser, but also to customize and troubleshoot one.
Most web browsers have the same features and capabilities, but the exact steps involved
in changing or activating them vary depending on the application and its version. Some of
the most popular browsers available today include the following:
Internet Explorer
Firefox
Chrome
Safari
Opera
On Windows-based PCs, Internet Explorer is the most widely used because it comes free
with Windows; other browsers must be downloaded and installed from their respective
websites. There are different versions of Internet Explorer; as of this writing, the newest
version is Internet Explorer 9. Windows Update, if enabled, will automatically download
and install new versions of Internet Explorer as they become available.
Firefox, one of the most popular alternatives to Internet Explorer, is available for free
for almost every operating system at
www.mozilla.org
.
Browser Add-Ons (Plug-Ins)
Today's browsers are fairly adept at handling a range of content types, but they can't
always do it alone. An
add-on
(also called a
plug-in
) is a helper program for a browser
that increases its capabilities, such as the ability to play a certain type of video clip (like
QuickTime) or to run a certain type of embedded application (such as Shockwave Flash).
When you visit a web page that requires a certain add-on, if you already have the add-
on, it activates automatically to display the content. If you don't have that add-on installed,
a prompt may appear to help you download it, or an error message may appear telling you
that you don't have it.
Be cautious about clicking links to install add-ons. Some less reputable
sites will try to trick you into clicking a link to install an add-on and then
will use that add-on to display ads on your computer, spy on you, or take
over your computer to send out spam or spread viruses.
