What It Is
A web browser is the app on a phone or computer that opens websites. When someone types your address or taps a search result, the browser requests your site’s files from the server, then reads the HTML, CSS and JavaScript and turns them into the page they see. Common browsers include Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox. If the internet is a road network, the browser is the car your visitors drive.
Why It Matters for Your Business
Different browsers can show the same site slightly differently, and many customers use whichever one came with their device. A gallery that looks perfect in Chrome on your laptop might have a gap in Safari on an iPhone. For a business with lots of mobile visitors, testing in Safari on iPhone and Chrome on Android catches most issues your customers will hit.
Good to Know
When you report a website problem to a developer, always say which browser and device you were using, and include a screenshot. Also try a private or incognito window first. If the problem disappears there, it is often an old saved copy of the page in your browser’s cache, not a real problem on the site.