A browser is a computer program that lets you explore and view websites on the internet. When you type an address like “nasa.gov” or search for “how tall is Mount Everest,” your browser fetches that information from computers around the world and displays it on your screen. Popular browsers include Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Think of a browser as a window into the internet. Without it, all the text, images, and videos on websites would just be coded instructions that computers understand but humans can't read. The browser translates that code into the colorful, interactive pages you actually see.

Browsers also keep track of your browsing history (the websites you've visited), let you bookmark your favorite sites, and help protect you from dangerous websites. Modern browsers can do much more than display text and pictures: they can play videos, run games, and let you video chat with friends.

Before the internet, people would browse through books in a library or browse through clothes at a store, casually looking without necessarily buying anything.