We use a web browser to surf the internet. Have you ever thought about how the browser works? What lies behind the browser to render your favorite website? It’s all because of the browser engine.
Like a car needs an engine to run, similarly, a web browser also needs an engine to render a website. Here, we’ll discuss what a browser engine is and the types of browser engines.
A few years ago, we hardly knew any other name than Internet Explorer for surfing the internet. Internet Explorer is pre-installed with every Windows operating system until now. However, the recent release of several other browsers has made web browsing much easier and more customized. In other words, they provide unprecedented service with many advanced features embedded in them.
The most popular browsers are Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera Browser, and Safari. These browsers use their own browser engine to render a website.
What is a Browser Engine?
A browser engine is one of the crucial technologies that power your browser, providing such insane speed. Did you know that without a browser engine, web browsers will not work?
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are the only things that we’ll see when we visit any website without a browser engine. Additionally, the content on the website will be hidden, and the browser will not be attractive without any multimedia attachments.
Frankly speaking, it all depends on the browser about how it can imbibe all the codes to bring out the best information to the user.
Now, the fact is, that all the web browsers available today have been built around five main types of browser engines. Gecko, WebKit, Presto, Trident, and Blink are five of them that have been the reason for unparalleled service from such eminent web browsers.
Every web browser comprises a core software component known as a browser engine. A browser engine is one of the crucial technologies that power the browser. The basic task of an engine is to convert the source code, such as HTML documents of the webpage, into a visual representation that a user finds interactive.
If you are confused between browser engine and search engine. Then check out our guide on the difference between Browser Engine and Search Engine to get a better idea.
Types of Browser Engines
Here in this section, we are going to discuss the different types of browser engines. There are five different types of browser engines: Trident (Internet Explorer), Gecko (Firefox), Webkit (Safari), Presto (Opera), and Blink (Google Chrome). All render most websites in very similar ways at very similar speeds.
Now, let us discuss all these browser engines in brief.
1. Trident
The Trident browser engine was first introduced with Internet Explorer 4.0, and due to its remarkable performance, it is still in use today. This engine has been exclusively designed for the Windows Operating System and developed by Microsoft, especially for software developers to enhance web browsing functionality within the Windows Operating System.
In addition, Trident has been utilized as an engine in web browsers (such as Internet Explorer) and has found applications in software with direct integration with web browsers like Google Chrome Browser, Maxthon, etc. This browser engine has also been employed in programs like Google Talk, Valve Steam, Pandion, etc.
Trident has been particularly popular with Microsoft products. However, at present, Microsoft’s newest browser, Microsoft Edge, uses Blink engines.
2. Gecko
Another popular web browser engine that has received widespread appreciation from many software developers and programmers is the Gecko engine, which was first introduced in Netscape in the year 1997. The initial version of the Gecko engine was found to be slow and did not meet the W3 standard, in contrast to Trident for Microsoft Internet Explorer at that time.
The Gecko engine is developed by Mozilla and is used in the Firefox browser. The fact is that the Gecko engine is an open-source software project, making developers actively contribute to its further development.
In the recent past, Gecko has replaced the Trident engine. This is because the major drawbacks of the Trident engine are that it is not cross-platform and does not provide better security to the web browser, whereas Gecko is a better choice than its counterparts.
3. Webkit
WebKit was the first application built around KHTML, and it was launched in October 2000. It has made major contributions to Apple, Nokia, the WebKit foundation, as well as other industries.
Google introduced the Chrome browser, which features a WebKit engine and is used in Android mobile phones for the first time in the Google Chrome version.
It is only recently that WebKit has been seen in any Android version. However, it has made a significant contribution to Apple’s iPhone and iPad, being responsible for rendering content and email software within the web browser.
Besides giants like Google and Apple, WebKit also features Adobe applications extensively used to render HTML and JavaScript inside Adobe applications.
4. Presto
The Presto engine was first introduced in Opera Browser 7 on 28 January 2003. It has made a major contribution to Opera software and is developed by Opera. Previously, web browsers used the Elektra Engine in versions 4-6, but later, Opera introduced its alternative named Presto. However, it is limited to only the Opera web browser and its products.
Presto is used in Opera versions 7 to 12, Opera Mobile versions 9.5 to 12, and the Opera Mini browser. Recently, Opera switched to the Blink engine.
5. Blink
The Blink engine is used in the most popular web browser, which is Google Chrome. It was developed as part of the Chromium project with contributions from Google, Opera Software, and Adobe.
Initially, the Blink engine was used on Google Chrome and Chromium browsers. However, recently, the Blink engine has gained more popularity. It is now used on Microsoft Edge, Opera Browser, and Avast Secure Browser. It is also used in browsers based on Chromium, such as Brave and Yandex Browser.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the various browser engines is crucial in comprehending the backbone of web browsing experiences. Trident, Gecko, WebKit, Presto, and Blink each have their unique contributions and histories, shaping the way we interact with the internet.
That’s it, this is all about what is browser engines and the types of browser engines. Blink is the most popular browser engine out there. However, nowadays almost every browser uses Blink as the browser engine.
