Web browsers play a vital role in our everyday lives as they serve as the primary means of accessing the internet which helps in making communication easier and faster, keeping us well-informed, and providing entertainment. They could easily pass as the most used piece of software. Of course, we are familiar with the major web browsers, including Google's Chrome, which, according to statistics, is the most used web browser in the world. Others include Mozilla's Firefox, Microsoft's Edge, Apple's Safari, Opera web browser, and the list goes on. This article aims to enlighten you on the intricate workings of the web browser, unraveling what goes on under the hood and how the web browser achieves its functionality.
The main functionality of a web browser is to fetch resources, which are mostly HTML files with style sheets and some JavaScript scripts, and then proceed to display the information in an understandable way for end users. This goal is achieved by the collaboration of various components in the web browser, including the user interface, the rendering engine, the JavaScript engine, networking components, data storage, and browser plugins/extensions.
The roles of the various components are as follows;
User Interface
The user interface, as the name suggests, refers to the visual components that end users see and interact with. This includes the address bar, search buttons, bookmark buttons, and various other components on the browser screen. The user interface differs across various browsers, but it is usually simple and easy to use.
The Rendering Engine
The rendering engine deals with the processing of acquired HTML/XML files into visually pleasing layouts for end users. HTML files mostly consist of tags and other components that, if displayed as is, would be unappealing to the average user. As such, the rendering engine processes them alongside the attached CSS file (if any) and presents to you the beautiful website you see on the screen. Different browsers make use of different rendering engines; for example, Google Chrome and Opera use Blink, Mozilla Firefox uses Gecko, while Chrome and Safari use Webkit.
The Browser Engine
It is fair to refer to this component as the powerhouse of the web browser as it functions as a middleman between the user interface, the rendering engine, and other browser components. It ensures that inputs from the user, such as typing in a web address or clicking a link, are accurately relayed and trigger the appropriate feedback. A fast and efficient browser engine ensures that web pages load smoothly and quickly, thereby enhancing the user experience.
Javascript Engine(Interpreter)
As we all know, JavaScript is the language of the web. It enables developers to create websites with dynamic content, interactive features, and visually appealing animations. It wouldn't make sense if browsers didn't come with JavaScript interpreters. The JavaScript interpreter is the component of the browser that parses and executes JavaScript code embedded on web pages. The interpreted results are generated and forwarded to the rendering engine for appropriate action.
Networking Components
These refer to the components involved in network communications using protocols such as HTTPS and FTP. They are responsible for tasks like resolving web addresses into IP addresses, establishing network connections, making HTTP requests to web servers, fetching required resources like HTML/CSS files, and relaying them to the rendering engine for proper rendering/display.
Data Storage
You might be wondering what data storage has to do with web browsers, but hear me out. Your web browser stores minute amounts of data. Browsers make use of three storage mechanisms: localStorage, sessionStorage, and cookies. localStorage stores data that is persistent (remains in the browser memory even after being refreshed or closed) and can only be accessed by client-side JavaScript, not by the server. sessionStorage is similar to localStorage except that data stored here isn't persistent. Data stored in cookies are persistent; they can be configured to be accessed only by the server and not by client-side JavaScript. Cookies help inform websites about the user, enabling the websites to personalize the user experience. In addition, some cookies are necessary for security purposes, such as authentication cookies.
Browser Plugins/Extensions
Plugins or browser extensions refer to non-standalone software that can be added to web browsers for extra functionality. Plugins are generally created using web-based technologies like JavaScript. Web browser plugins can add or remove content from websites, such as blocking intrusive ads or allowing users to edit content on web pages. With plugins, one can easily add new features to a web browser.
Understanding browser architecture not only enriches our comprehension of the digital realm but also empowers us to navigate the vast landscape of the internet with greater insight and efficiency.
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