Timeline of web browsers

Last updated

This is a timeline of web browsers from 1990 to the present. Prior to browsers, many technologies and systems existed for information viewing and transmission. For an in-depth history of earlier web browsers, see the web browser article.

Contents

Graphical timeline

Timeline of web browsers.svg

Timeline

1990s

The following table chronicles the major release dates during the 1990s for the more popular web browsers.

1990 WorldWideWeb (Nexus)
1993 Lynx
Jan
Feb
Mar2.0*
Apr
May
Jun
Jul2.0.10
Aug2.0.11
Sep
Oct
Nov2.0.12
Dec2.1
1994 Lynx Mosaic Netscape Opera
Jan
Feb2.2
Mar
Apr
May2.3
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct0.9*
Nov1.0β*
Dec1.0
1995 Lynx Netscape Opera IE
Jan
Feb
Mar1.1
Apr1.0
May
Jun2.4
Jul
Aug1.221.0*
Sep
Oct
Nov 2.0
Dec
1996 Lynx Netscape Opera IE Mac IE
Jan2.0B*
Feb
Mar2.0
Apr2.02.0
May2.5
Jun
Jul
Aug3.0 3.0 2.1
Sep2.6
Oct
Nov
Dec2.10
1997 Lynx Netscape Opera IE Mac IE
Jan3.0
Feb2.7
Mar
Apr
May
Jun4.0
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct 4.0
Nov
Dec3.0
1998 Lynx Netscape Opera IE Mac IE
Jan4.0
Feb
Mar2.8
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct2.8.14.5
Nov3.5
Dec
1999 Lynx Netscape Opera IE Mac IE Mozilla
Jan4.5
Feb
Mar 5.0 M3*
Apr
May
Jun2.8.2
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2000s

The following table chronicles the major release dates during the 2000s for the more popular web browsers.

2000 Lynx Netscape Opera IE Mac IE Mozilla
Jan
Feb
Mar5.0† [1]
Apr2.8.3
May
Jun4.0
Jul5.5
Aug5.6
Sep
Oct
Nov6.0
Dec5.00.6
2001 Lynx Netscape Opera IE Mozilla
Jan0.7
Feb0.8
Mar
Apr
May0.9
Jun
Jul2.8.4
Aug6.1
Sep
Oct6.2 6.0
Nov6.0
Dec
2002 Lynx Netscape Opera IE Chimera Mozilla Phoenix
Jan
Feb0.1*
Mar
Apr0.2
May
Jun1.0
Jul0.4
Aug7.0 (& 4.8)1.1
Sep6.0 SP10.50.1*
Oct0.4
Nov0.61.2
Dec0.5
2003 Lynx Netscape Opera IE Camino Mozilla Firebird Safari Maxthon
Jan7.0
Feb
Mar0.71.3
Apr7.1
May0.6
Jun7.11.41.0
Jul
Aug
Sep7.2
Oct1.50.7
Nov
Dec.9*
2004 Lynx Netscape Opera IE Camino Mozilla Firefox Safari Maxthon
Jan1.6
Feb2.8.50.8
Mar
Apr
May7.5
Jun0.81.70.9
Jul
Aug7.26.0 SP2
Sep0.10 (PR)1.0*
Oct
Nov1.0
Dec
2005 Lynx Netscape Opera IE Camino Mozilla
SeaMonkey
Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr8.02.0
May8.0
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep8.5SM 1.0α*1.53.0*
Oct
Nov1.5
Dec
2006 Lynx Netscape Opera IE Camino Mozilla
SeaMonkey
Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape
Jan8.1SM 1.0
Feb1.0
Mar
AprM. 1.7.13† [2]
May
Jun9.0
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct2.8.6 7.0 2.0
Nov4.0
Dec9.1
2007 Lynx Netscape Opera IE Camino SeaMonkey Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape NetSurf
Jan1.1
Feb
Mar
Apr9.2
May1.61.0* [3]
Jun1.53.0
Jul2.0
Aug1.1 [3]
Sep
Oct9.0
Nov
Dec
2008 Lynx Netscape Opera IE Camino SeaMonkey Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape NetSurf
Jan
Feb9.0.0.6† [4]
Mar3.11.2 [3]
Apr1.6
May
Jun9.5 3.0
Jul
Aug
Sep0.2.149.27*
Oct9.6
Nov
Dec1.02.5
2009 Lynx Chrome Opera IE Camino SeaMonkey Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape NetSurf
Jan
Feb
Mar 8.0
Apr2.0 [3]
May2.02.1 [3]
Jun 3.5 4.0
Jul2.8.7
Aug
Sep3.0 10.0 5.1
Oct2.0
Nov10.102.0
Dec6.0

2010s

The following table chronicles the major release dates during the 2010s for the more popular web browsers.

2010 Lynx Chrome Opera IE Camino SeaMonkey Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape NetSurf
Jan4.03.6
Feb
Mar10.50
Apr6.12.5 [3]
May5.0
Jun4.1, 5.0
Jul10.606.2
Aug6.3
Sep6.03.0 [5] 2.6 [3]
Oct7.0
Nov
Dec8.011.0
2011 Lynx Chrome Opera IE Camino SeaMonkey Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape NetSurf
Jan6.4
Feb9.0
Mar10.0 9.0 4.0
Apr11.011.102.7 [3]
May6.5
Jun12.011.502.1 5.0 3.1 [6]
Jul2.25.1
Aug13.06.0
Sep14.02.47.02.8 [3]
Oct15.03.2 [6]
Nov2.12.58.0
Dec16.011.602.69.03.3 [6]
2012 Lynx Chrome Opera IE Camino SeaMonkey Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape NetSurf
Jan2.710.0
Feb17.0
Mar18.02.1.2† [7] [8] 2.811.0
Apr2.912.06.72.9 [3]
May19.0
Jun12.002.1013.03.4 [6]
Jul20.02.1114.06.0
Aug21.02.1215.0
Sep22.06.8
Oct 10.0 2.1316.0
Nov23.012.102.1417.03.5 [6]
Dec4.0 [9]
2013 Lynx Chrome Opera IE SeaMonkey Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape NetSurf
Jan24.02.1518.0
Feb25.02.1619.0
Mar26.0
Apr12.152.1720.03.0 [3]
May27.021.0
Jun22.04.1 [9]
Jul28.015.02.19
Aug29.02.2023.0
Sep16.02.2124.0
Oct30.017.0 11.0 2.2225.07.0
Nov31.018.04.2 [9]
Dec2.2326.0
2014 Lynx Chrome Opera IE SeaMonkey Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape NetSurf
Jan32.019.0
Feb2.8.833.02.2427.04.3 [9]
Mar20.02.2528.0
Apr34.029.04.4 [9] 3.1 [3]
May35.021.02.26
Jun22.030.0
Jul36.023.031.06.9
Aug37.03.2 [3]
Sep24.032.07.1
Oct38.025.02.3033.08.0
Nov39.0
Dec26.034.0
2015 Lynx Chrome Opera IE Edge SeaMonkey Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape NetSurf
Jan40.02.3235.0
Feb27.036.0
Mar41.028.02.33 [10] 37.03.3 [3]
Apr42.029.0
May43.038.0
Jun30.0
Jul44.020.10240 [11] 39.0
Aug31.040.06.10
Sep45.032.02.38 [12] 41.09.0 [13] 6.11
Oct46.0 [14] 33.0 [15] 4.4.8 [9]
Nov25.10586 [16] 2.39 [17] 42.0
Dec47.0 [18] 34.0 [19] 43.0 [20]
2016 Lynx Chrome Opera IE Edge SeaMonkey Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape NetSurf
Jan48.035.044.09.0.36.12
Feb4.9 [9] 3.4 [3]
Mar49.036.02.40 [21] 45.09.1
Apr50.046.06.133.5 [3]
May51.037.06.14
Jun38.047.0
Jul52.0
Aug53.039.038.1439348.0
Sep40.0 [22] 49.0 [23] 10.0 [24]
Oct54.0 [25] 41.0 [26] 11.0.36 [27] 4.9.4 [9]

5.0 [28]

Nov50.06.15.0 [29] 3.6 [3]
Dec55.042.02.46
2017 Lynx Chrome Opera IE Edge SeaMonkey Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape NetSurf
Jan56.051.010.1
Feb43.0
Mar57.044.011.0.4052.0
Apr58.040.1506353.0
May45.0
Jun59.046.011.0.4354.0
Jul60.02.485.1 [30]
Aug47.055.0
Sep61.048.011.0.4641.1629956.011.0
Oct62.03.7 [3]
Nov49.02.4957.0
Dec63.0
2018 Lynx Chrome Opera IE Edge SeaMonkey Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape NetSurf
Jan64.050.058.0
Feb51.06.15.2 [31]
Mar65.052.011.0.5659.05.2 [30]
Apr66.042.17134
May67.053.02.49.360.0
Jun54.061.0
Jul2.8.9 [32] 68.02.49.4
Aug55.03.8 [3]
Sep69.056.062.012.0 [33]
Oct70.044.1776363.0
Nov57.0
Dec71.064.012.0.2 [34]
2019 Lynx Chrome Opera IE Edge SeaMonkey Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape NetSurf
Jan72.058.011.0.105 [35] 65.0
Feb
Mar73.066.05.2.7 [30]
Apr74.060.0
May44.1836267.0
Jun75.062.0
Jul76.068.03.9 [3]
Aug63.0
Sep77.044.18362.387.02.49.569.013.0
Oct78.064.011.0.155 [36] 70.05.3.8 [30]
Nov65.0
Dec79.071.0

2020s

The following table chronicles the major release dates during the 2020s for the more popular web browsers.

2020 Lynx Chrome Opera IE Edge SeaMonkey Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape NetSurf
Jan66.011.0.17079.072.0
Feb80.067.080.02.53.173.0
Mar74.013.1
Apr81.068.081.075.0
May83.083.02.53.276.03.10 [3]
Jun69.077.0
Jul84.070.084.02.53.379.0
Aug85.085.080.0
Sep2.9.0dev.6 [37] 71.011.0.210†2.53.481.014.0
Oct86.072.086.082.0
Nov87.087.02.53.583.06.1.0 [38]
Dec73.084.014.0.2 [39]
2021 Lynx Chrome Opera Edge SeaMonkey Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape NetSurf
Jan88.088.02.53.685.0
Feb74.086.0
Mar89.075.089.02.53.787.0
Apr90.076.090.088.0
May91.091.0
Jun77.02.53.889.0
Jul92.092.02.53.8.190.0
Aug93.078.093.02.53.991.0
Sep94.079.094.02.53.9.192.015.0
Oct95.080.095.093.0
Nov96.081.096.02.53.1094.0
Dec82.02.53.10.295.0
2022 Lynx Chrome Opera Edge SeaMonkey Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape NetSurf
Jan97.083.097.096.0
Feb98.084.098.097.0
Mar99.085.099.02.53.1198.015.4
Apr101.086.0101.099.0
May102.087.0102.02.53.12101.0
Jun103.088.0103.0102.0
Jul104.089.02.53.13103.0
Aug105.090.0104.0104.0
Sep106.091.0105.02.53.14105.016.0
Oct107.092.0107.0106.0
Nov108.093.0107.0
Dec94.0108.0108.0
2023 Lynx Chrome Opera Edge SeaMonkey Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape NetSurf
Jan109.0109.02.53.15109.0
Feb110.095.0110.0110.0
Mar111.097.0111.02.53.16111.0
Apr112.098.0112.0112.0
May114.099.0113.0113.0
Jun100.0114.0114.0
Jul115.0101.0115.0115.016.6
Aug116.0102.0116.02.53.17117.0
Sep117.0117.02.53.17.1118.017.0
Oct118.0104.0118.0119.017.1
Nov119.0105.0119.0120.0
Dec120.0106.0120.02.53.18121.0
2024 Lynx Chrome Opera Edge SeaMonkey Firefox Safari Maxthon Lunascape NetSurf
Jan121.0121.0122.0
Feb122.0107.0122.0123.0
Mar123.0108.0123.0124.0

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Web browser</span> Software used to navigate the internet

A web browser is an application for accessing websites. When a user requests a web page from a particular website, the browser retrieves its files from a web server and then displays the page on the user's screen. Browsers are used on a range of devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. In 2020, an estimated 4.9 billion people have used a browser. The most-used browser is Google Chrome, with a 64% global market share on all devices, followed by Safari with 19%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Safari (web browser)</span> Web browser by Apple

Safari is a web browser developed by Apple. It is built into Apple's operating systems, including macOS, iOS, iPadOS and visionOS, and uses Apple's open-source browser engine WebKit, which was derived from KHTML.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Firefox</span> Free and open-source web browser by Mozilla

Mozilla Firefox, or simply Firefox, is a free and open-source web browser developed by the Mozilla Foundation and its subsidiary, the Mozilla Corporation. It uses the Gecko rendering engine to display web pages, which implements current and anticipated web standards. Firefox is available for Windows 10 or later versions, macOS, and Linux. Its unofficial ports are available for various Unix and Unix-like operating systems, including FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, illumos, and Solaris Unix. It is also available for Android and iOS. However, as with all other iOS web browsers, the iOS version uses the WebKit layout engine instead of Gecko due to platform requirements. An optimized version is also available on the Amazon Fire TV as one of the two main browsers available with Amazon's Silk Browser.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Favicon</span> Icon associated with a particular web site

A favicon, also known as a shortcut icon, website icon, tab icon, URL icon, or bookmark icon, is a file containing one or more small icons associated with a particular website or web page. A web designer can create such an icon and upload it to a website by several means, and graphical web browsers will then make use of it. Browsers that provide favicon support typically display a page's favicon in the browser's address bar and next to the page's name in a list of bookmarks. Browsers that support a tabbed document interface typically show a page's favicon next to the page's title on the tab, and site-specific browsers use the favicon as a desktop icon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Browser wars</span> Competition between web browsing applications for share of worldwide usage

A browser war is a competition for dominance in the usage share of web browsers. The "first browser war," (1995–2001) consisted of Internet Explorer and Navigator. Browser wars continued with the decline of Internet Explorer's market share and the popularity of other browsers, including Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge and Opera.

This is a comparison of both historical and current web browsers based on developer, engine, platform(s), releases, license, and cost.

Netscape Plugin Application Programming Interface (NPAPI) is a deprecated application programming interface (API) for web browser plugins, initially developed for Netscape Navigator 2.0 in 1995 and subsequently adopted by other browsers.

A JavaScript engine is a software component that executes JavaScript code. The first JavaScript engines were mere interpreters, but all relevant modern engines use just-in-time compilation for improved performance.

A browser extension is a software module for customizing a web browser. Browsers typically allow users to install a variety of extensions, including user interface modifications, cookie management, ad blocking, and the custom scripting and styling of web pages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Private browsing</span> Privacy feature in some web browsers

Private browsing, also known as incognito mode or private mode, is a feature available in web browsers that allows users to browse the internet without leaving any traces of their online activity on their device. In this mode, the browser initiates a temporary session separate from its main session and user data. The browsing history is not recorded, and local data related to the session, like Cookies and Web cache, are deleted once the session ends. The primary purpose of these modes is to ensure that data and history from a specific browsing session do not remain on the device or get accessed by another user of the same device.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lunascape</span> Web browser

Lunascape is a web browser developed by Lunascape Corporation in Tokyo, Japan. It is unusual in that it contains three rendering engines: Gecko, WebKit, and Trident. This feature is common only to the Avant web browser. The user can switch between layout engines seamlessly.

The following is a comparison of RSS feed aggregators. Often e-mail programs and web browsers have the ability to display RSS feeds. They are listed here, too.

The Web Open Font Format (WOFF) is a font format for use in web pages. WOFF files are OpenType or TrueType fonts, with format-specific compression applied and additional XML metadata added. The two primary goals are first to distinguish font files intended for use as web fonts from fonts files intended for use in desktop applications via local installation, and second to reduce web font latency when fonts are transferred from a server to a client over a network connection.

The HTML5 specification introduced the video element for the purpose of playing videos, partially replacing the object element. HTML5 video is intended by its creators to become the new standard way to show video on the web, instead of the previous de facto standard of using the proprietary Adobe Flash plugin, though early adoption was hampered by lack of agreement as to which video coding formats and audio coding formats should be supported in web browsers. As of 2020, HTML5 video is the only widely supported video playback technology in modern browsers, with the Flash plugin being phased out.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BrowserChoice.eu</span> Website created by Microsoft in March 2010

BrowserChoice.eu was a website created by Microsoft in March 2010 following a decision in the European Union Microsoft competition case. The case involved legal proceedings by the European Union against Microsoft and found that, by including Internet Explorer with their market-dominant Windows operating system, Microsoft had used this dominance to create a similar market position in the web browser market. The BrowserChoice.eu website was created to allow users that had not made, or were unaware of, a choice to try other browsers, and thus comply with the European Commission's ruling.

Content Security Policy (CSP) is a computer security standard introduced to prevent cross-site scripting (XSS), clickjacking and other code injection attacks resulting from execution of malicious content in the trusted web page context. It is a Candidate Recommendation of the W3C working group on Web Application Security, widely supported by modern web browsers. CSP provides a standard method for website owners to declare approved origins of content that browsers should be allowed to load on that website—covered types are JavaScript, CSS, HTML frames, web workers, fonts, images, embeddable objects such as Java applets, ActiveX, audio and video files, and other HTML5 features.

HTML5 Audio is a subject of the HTML5 specification, incorporating audio input, playback, and synthesis, as well as in the browser. iOS

uBlock Origin Web browser extension

uBlock Origin is a free and open-source browser extension for content filtering, including ad blocking. The extension is available for Chrome, Chromium, Edge, Firefox, Brave, Opera, Pale Moon, as well as versions of Safari prior to 13. uBlock Origin has received praise from technology websites and is reported to be much less memory-intensive than other extensions with similar functionality. uBlock Origin's stated purpose is to give users the means to enforce their own (content-filtering) choices.

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