Navigation
Exploring the software tools we use to view websites and how they translate code into pictures and text.
Imagine you have a magic translator that can instantly turn secret computer codes from across the ocean into your favorite videos, games, and pictures. That is exactly what a web browser does every single day!
A web browser is a software application that acts as your 'window' to the internet. Without a browser, you wouldn't be able to see websites like YouTube or Wikipedia! It is the tool you use to navigate the World Wide Web. There are many different brands of browsers, but they all do the same basic job. The most popular ones you might see are Google Chrome, Safari (on Apple devices), and Microsoft Edge.
Think about the device you are using right now. 1. Look for a colorful circle icon (Chrome). 2. Look for a blue compass icon (Safari). 3. Look for a blue 'e' or wave icon (Edge). If you clicked one of these to get here, you are already using a browser!
Quick Check
Can you name three popular web browsers?
Answer
Google Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.
Websites aren't actually stored as pictures and text on the internet. Instead, they are stored as long files of code, mostly in a language called HTML. To a human, this code looks like a jumble of letters and brackets. The browser's job is to fetch (download) this code and render (translate) it into the colors, fonts, and images you recognize. It happens incredibly fast—often in less than second!
Think of a browser like a waiter at a restaurant: 1. You give the 'waiter' (browser) an order by typing a website name. 2. The waiter runs to the 'kitchen' (a computer called a server) to get the ingredients. 3. The waiter brings back the ingredients and puts them together on a plate (your screen) so it looks delicious!
Quick Check
What is the name of the code language that browsers translate into visual websites?
Answer
HTML
Every browser has a few 'tools' that help you move around. The most important is the Address Bar. This is the long white box at the top where you type the URL (the website's home address). Another key tool is the Refresh Button. It usually looks like a circular arrow. If a website isn't loading correctly, clicking this tells the browser to 'fetch' the code all over again to try and fix the error.
Imagine you are watching a live score for a soccer game. 1. The score says , but you know someone just scored. 2. You click the Refresh Button (the circular arrow). 3. The browser sends a new request to the server. 4. The browser receives the updated code and renders the new score: .
Which of these is the main job of a web browser?
Where do you type the name of the website you want to visit?
Google Chrome and Safari are both examples of web browsers.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, try to explain to a friend or family member why a browser is like a 'translator.' Can you remember the name of the code it translates?
Practice Activity
Open a browser and find the Refresh button. Try to find the 'Home' button if your browser has one!