Web Browsers (Grade 12 NSC Matric Computer Application Technology): Revision Notes

Web Browsers

What are web browsers?

Web browsers are essential software applications that serve as your gateway to the internet. Think of them as digital windows that allow you to access and view information on the world-wide web. Through browsers, you can open and view web pages containing images, videos, text, and links to other web pages.

The most popular web browsers that you'll encounter include Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. Each browser has its own unique features, but they all perform the same basic function of helping you navigate the internet safely and efficiently.

Bookmarks

Imagine you're reading a physical book and you place a bookmark on a page you want to return to later. Browser bookmarks work exactly the same way! A bookmark is a saved shortcut that tells your browser to go to a specific website address, saving you the effort of remembering and typing the full URL each time you want to visit that page.

Creating bookmarks varies slightly between browsers:

• Firefox 4: Click the star-shaped icon next to the website URL in the address bar. To view your bookmarks, click the book-shaped icon with a star in the top right corner of the browser window.
• Safari: Click the "Bookmarks" menu, then select "Add Bookmark" and click "Add". To view bookmarks, click "Bookmarks" menu and select "Show All Bookmarks".
• Google Chrome: Click the star-shaped icon in the address bar, then click "Done" in the dialogue box that appears.

History and favourites

Your browser automatically keeps track of your internet journey through a feature called History. This function organises the list of webpages you've visited over time by category, storing the URLs and dates of your browsing sessions. You can typically view your history organised by Today, Yesterday, Two weeks ago, and Three weeks ago, making it easy to find that website you visited but can't quite remember.

Most browsers also include a Recently closed section as part of your browser history. This shows you the web pages you recently viewed and closed, which is incredibly helpful when you accidentally close a tab you still need.

Favourites work similarly to bookmarks - they save websites you frequently visit for easy access later. You can import favourites from one browser to another when switching browsers or using multiple browsers.

Importing favourites and bookmarks

When you switch from one browser to another, you don't have to lose all your saved bookmarks and favourites. Most browsers provide import functions to transfer this data:

• Firefox 4: Press "Alt" to open the File menu, select "Import", then choose which browser you're importing from and click "Next".
• Internet Explorer 9: Click the star-shaped icon, then select "Import and Export", choose "Import from another Browser", and follow the prompts.

This feature is particularly useful when you're setting up a new computer or trying out different browsers.

Home page settings

Your home page is like the front door of your internet experience - it's the webpage that greets you when you first open your browser or when you click the Home button. You have complete control over what this page displays.

You can customise your browser to show:

• Your startup page (what appears when you first launch the browser)
• Your homepage (what appears when you click the Home button)

Blocking websites

Sometimes you need to prevent access to certain websites - whether it's blocking distracting social media sites during study time or protecting younger users from inappropriate content. Website blocking uses firewalls or proxy servers to prevent access to specific network resources.

For Google Chrome users, extensions like Block Site can be downloaded from the Chrome web store. These tools allow you to:

• Create lists of blocked websites
• Set up scheduled blocking (like blocking Facebook during work hours)
• Set up redirections to more productive websites

Remember that these blocking methods aren't foolproof - they're meant to reduce temptation and add friction to accessing distracting sites, not to provide absolute control.

Caching

Caching is your browser's way of making your internet experience faster and more efficient. When you visit websites, your browser temporarily stores copies of web pages, images, and other content on your computer. This means when you revisit those sites, they load much more quickly because your browser can use the stored copies instead of downloading everything again.

However, caching can sometimes cause problems:

• Websites might appear offline when they're actually working
• You might not see recent changes to websites you've visited before
• Your browser might display outdated content

Browser plug-ins

Plug-ins are like apps for your browser - they're additional pieces of software that expand what your browser can do. These add-ons give browsers extra functionality they weren't originally designed to have.

Most plug-ins are available as free downloads. To install them:

1. Visit the developer's website
2. Download the installer
3. Save it to an easy-to-find location (like your Desktop or Downloads folder)
4. Run the installer and follow the prompts
5. You might need to restart your browser to activate the new functionality

Pop-up blockers

Pop-ups are small windows that suddenly appear while you're browsing, usually containing advertisements. They're designed to grab your attention with bright colours, animations, and sometimes sound. While some pop-ups provide helpful information (like form guidance), most are unwanted advertisements.

All major browsers now include built-in pop-up blocking features that you can enable or disable through settings. These blockers can usually distinguish between helpful pop-ups and advertising pop-ups, thanks to intelligent blocking systems.

For users who want more control, third-party pop-up blocking software is available, offering features like:

• Advanced ad filtering
• Highly customisable blocking options
• Additional privacy protection

However, for most users, the built-in browser pop-up blockers are perfectly adequate for maintaining a pleasant browsing experience.

Private browsing

Private browsing is like having a secret browsing session that doesn't leave traces on your computer. Since 2008, with the establishment of Data Privacy Day (January 28th), awareness about online privacy protection has grown significantly.

Private browsing modes work differently across browsers:

Google Chrome calls it Incognito Mode. You can identify it by the "secret agent" icon (figure with hat and sunglasses) in the top-left corner. In Incognito Mode, Chrome doesn't keep track of:

• Pages you visit
• Data you enter into forms
• Searches you submit
• Files you download (though the files remain on your computer)

Private browsing is particularly useful when:

• Using a shared computer
• Shopping for gifts on a family computer
• Researching sensitive topics
• Testing how websites appear to new visitors