We all use one or the other browser to use the Internet. Today we will talk about everything about the Internet browsers and discuss in detail the features and specifications of Chrome and Firefox.
Let the battle of the Chrome v/s Firefox begin!
But before we move on to a detailed comparison of Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, let us take you through a brief history of the world of Internet browsers and how the browsers have evolved into what they are today.
So, for starters, what is an Internet Browser?
Have you ever wondered what an Internet browser is? We use the term so often but none of us pay attention to what exactly a browser is. So, if we were to simply understand, a web or Internet browser is nothing else but a software program with which you can view any web page on a computer. Your browser is the tunnel through which you enter the world of the Internet. So, the web browser as a program does nothing but translate the code of the website into readable graphics and text. The first ever web browser was created by Sir Tim Berners-Lee which was very basic. It was a far sight from the kind of Internet browsers we have today. Today, the Internet is packed with text as well as graphics. However, when it was invented it was mostly text-based and frankly, boring. In fact, the number of users also was very small as using the Internet required some amount of basic knowledge. But over the last two decades it has evolved and how! But, with the launch of the Mosaic browser things started to change in 1992. Mosaic made the Internet very interesting by providing a very basic but unique graphical interface. Because of the graphics, the people could now use the Internet in a beer manner and it became more interesting as well. As people began to spend more time on the Internet, the entrepreneurs saw the gold mine of opportunities that the Internet is today and started establishing the presence of their companies.
Modern Internet Browsers :-
Let us take a minute and thank the modern Internet Browsers for the advanced immersive experience provided by them. The popular modern browsers are –
Microsoft Edge which was formerly known as the Internet explorerApple SafariOperaGoogle ChromeMozilla Firefox
Each website is coded differently. One thing to understand here is that some websites will display better on browsers as compared to others. You can surely have a way better browsing experience if you use two different browsers. If a website does not open in a browser which you use regularly, you can always try to use the second browser. Some browsers are better as they support plug-ins. You can consider a plug-in as a support program with which you can save information to quickly fill-out forms, send reminders, allow push notifications amongst other things. Not all Internet browsers allow the use of plug-ins, however, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox support most plug-ins. Stil there could be some potentially dangerous plug-ins which may be blocked by these two browsers. Moving on, now let us take a quick look at how Internet Browsers work. To begin with, you enter the website’s address that you want to visit. Then the browser locates the address of the website and requests that web server to provide website information. Then the browser receives the code for the website which it then translated to text and graphics for the viewers to read and interact with. Now that we covered the basics, let us move on to talk about two of the most popular Internet Browsers, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. When Chrome was launched nearly two decades ago, it instantly gained popularity as it could load the websites faster and its user interface was also very simple to manoeuvre. Today, browsers work in a very competitive landscape. Users are extremely concerned about their data and sensitive information. The amount of time that users spend on the Internet and the way data is processed has changed a lot since Chrome was launched. Let us now analyse Google Chrome v/s Mozilla Firefox on various different parameters.
Security and Privacy :- People who are dedicated to using Mozilla Firefox are ardent admirers of the privacy it provides. Mozilla Firefox’s latest version includes a feature called the ETP which the Enhanced Tracking Protection which is by default switched on for all users globally. This feature blocks almost 2000 trackers including the most notorious ones from social media companies like Facebook, Twitter etc. Another amazing feature that Firefox has is called the Firefox monitor which gives you a notification anytime there is a security breach. Also, Firefox has a Private browsing mode. As soon as you log out of session your browsing information is automatically deleted.
Talking about security of Google Chrome, it is also a very safe browser. It has got features like Google Safe Browsing. With this feature it is nearly impossible to surf a website which could potentially be dangerous. This feature also gives an explicit warning when someone tries to download dangerous files. Both these browsers have some amazing security features inbuilt in them. Both of them have a feature called ‘Sandboxing’. It basically separates the various features of the browser. So, if you go to a harmful website, this feature will ensure that no other part of your device is affected. However, even though the security features are in place, Google has been at the centre of the controversy regarding privacy. Google collects a large amount of user data which includes history, location, website visits etc. People have raised eyebrows regarding the data collection by Google which Google defended by saying that it collects data to improve user experience. They claim that the user’s data is protected from hackers which sounds counterintuitive as they run the largest advertising network. Now let us talk about Portability. Both Firefox and Chrome are available for almost all operating systems like Android, iOS, Windows etc. Both of these allow you to synchronise all your information including your passwords across your devices. Firefox has an added safety feature which is a primary password. This primary password protects all your login information and other passwords. Firefox lets you send an open tab option to your other device. So if you want to continue working from your desktop while you are working on your mobile, you can simply send an open tab option to your desktop. Chrome also lets you do the same. However, if multiple users are using your browsers this may not be a great idea. Next comes the Utility. Both Chrome and Firefox have a vast number of extensions and plug-ins. Chrome’s catalog has more number of plug-ins as compared to any other browser available. It also nicely syncs with Google services like Docs, Gmail etc. In comparison the extension library of Firefox is kind of limited, however, it is an open source software and it has got a huge number of contributors. It also has a sync feature which lets you see your tab, bookmarks and browsing history across all your devices. So, while Chrome can boast of a package of extensions, Firefox has a nice collection of features. It has reading mode which when turned on removes everything from the page except for the text. If you are someone who keeps multiple tabs open at one time, the browser of your choice will depend on the UI interface that is more suitable to you. So while Google Chrome keeps shrinking the tabs smaller as you keep opening them Firefox opens all the tabs in a horizontal scroll. One of the great features of Firefox is that it lets you customize a majority of the UI elements. A user can move it and arrange it as per the needs. With Chrome this feature comes with a limitation. So, you can hide a few elements in Chrome, but there is not much scope for customisation. With both Chrome and Firefox, however, you can change the appearance and the theme.
Overall performance of Chrome v/s Firefox
When it comes to portability and utility, both Chrome and Firefox perform fairly well. However, Chrome has a huge library of extensions and additional features. Firefox surely takes the prize for their commitment towards online privacy. Both the browsers are great. If privacy is what is important to you, go for Firefox and if working within the ecosystem of Google matters, then go for Chrome.
