Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. Here are some key points about Internet Explorer:
History
- Origin: Internet Explorer was first introduced on August 16, 1995, with the release of Windows 95 Plus! Pack. Initially, it was a rebranded version of Spyglass Mosaic, which Microsoft licensed from Spyglass Inc.
- Development: Over the years, Microsoft released multiple versions of Internet Explorer, with each version typically introducing new features, security enhancements, and improved compliance with web standards.
- Market Dominance: By the late 1990s and early 2000s, Internet Explorer had achieved near-total dominance in the browser market, largely due to its inclusion with Windows.
- Decline: From the mid-2000s, Internet Explorer began to lose market share due to competition from other browsers like Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari, which offered better performance, security, and adherence to web standards.
Features
- ActiveX Controls: Internet Explorer was known for its use of ActiveX controls, which allowed for rich internet applications but also posed significant security risks if not properly managed.
- Tabbed Browsing: Introduced in version 7, this allowed users to open multiple web pages within a single browser window.
- Security Features: Over time, Internet Explorer included various security enhancements like Protected Mode, SmartScreen Filter, and regular security updates to combat malware and phishing attacks.
- Standards Support: Microsoft made efforts to improve standards compliance with each new version, particularly with the release of Internet Explorer 9, which saw significant improvements in HTML5 and CSS3 support.
Legacy
- End of Support: Microsoft announced that support for Internet Explorer 11 would end on June 15, 2022, for certain versions of Windows 10, marking a shift towards newer technologies like Microsoft Edge.
- Microsoft Edge: Microsoft Edge was introduced as a modern replacement for Internet Explorer, initially based on EdgeHTML and later transitioning to Chromium in 2019, aiming to offer better performance, compatibility, and security.
- Compatibility Mode: Despite its decline, Internet Explorer still exists in compatibility mode within Microsoft Edge for legacy web applications that require its rendering engine.
References
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