With countless applications on every device we use, it can be pretty easy to lose track of which ones you’re actually using. For instance, do you know which web browser you’re using to read this? If not, there are some easy ways to figure it out.
Popular web browsers have distinct visual cues that can help you tell them apart. First, hover your mouse cursor over the browser icon on the taskbar and see if it displays Chrome, Firefox, or something else. Web-based tools like “What’s My Browser” can also help determine your browser quickly.
Web browsers are like windows to the online world — and there are quite a few to choose from. Modern versions often look the same and perform similar tasks, making it even harder to distinguish between them. So, let’s take a closer look at how you can be sure which one you’re using.
What Is a Web Browser?
Also known as ‘internet browsers; or simply ‘browsers,’ web browsers are software programs that allow you to locate and access web pages from the World Wide Web or local websites.
They display websites and other content created using machine-readable languages like Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Extensible Markup Language (XML).
How Do Web Browsers Work?
Browsers retrieve data from the internet and display it on your computing or mobile device. This information gets transferred using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) protocol, which determines the web’s transmission of text and audio-visual data.
Since anyone accessing a website should see the same information, web-based data must be displayed in a consistent format.
When a browser fetches data from a server, it uses rendering engines to translate HTML into human-readable text and images. Users can follow paths to other pages or websites using hyperlinks.
All webpages have a unique Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or web address. As web browsers visit internet servers for data, they use the web address to locate web pages.
How Do I Know Which Web Browser I’m Using?
The simplest way to find out which browser you are surfing on is by hovering over the browser’s icon or logo in your computer’s taskbar or dock. Another approach is checking the browser’s About page. You can do this easily by opening the settings menu, clicking ‘Help,’ and then ‘About.’
If your PC runs on a Windows operating system, the Windows Start screen shows you the browser applications on your hardware. You can also check the Windows Task Manager to tell which programs are running, including the browser you’re surfing the web on.
Some third-party websites can give you accurate information about your browser at the click of a button.
A Step-By-Step Guide to Finding Your Browser
The most popular browsers are:
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Safari
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
If your browser is open, you can visually identify the logo on your taskbar using the following steps and visual cues:
Google Chrome
If your browser’s icon looks like a red, green, and yellow ball with a blue center, you’re probably using Google Chrome. Hovering your mouse above the three horizontal dots on the upper right of your browser should display “Customize and control Google Chrome.”
For information about the Google Chrome browser version:
- Click the dotted line symbol.
- Navigate the menu to the ‘About Google Chrome‘ section.
- Click the option to display the version number and update status.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Does your browser’s logo look like a large and blue lower-case “e” with a gold streak? Then you’re probably using Microsoft Internet Explorer. You will see the icon on the left side of the address bar on each tab.
To determine the version and update status follow the steps below:
- Click the Tools icon that resembles a gear on the top right corner.
- Locate and click ‘About Internet Explorer.’
- Read the information box for version details and update status.
Mozilla Firefox
The Mozilla Firefox icon features a blue globe wrapped around a brown-orange fox. This logo may, however, be invisible in some versions.
Follow the steps below to check the Mozilla Firefox version:
- Click the three stacked horizontal dots in the top right part of the window.
- Navigate the menu to ‘Help.’
- Click ‘Help‘ or a question mark symbol.
- Click ‘About Firefox‘ to display version info.
Apple Safari
Apple’s Safari browser resembles a compass. This is one of the most distinctive popular browsers; the window features green, yellow, and red in the upper left corner. Safari also has the Apple logo on its toolbar, located at the top of the screen.
Here are the steps to finding out the version number:
- Click ‘Safari‘ on the toolbar
- Click ‘About Safari.’
Following these steps will display your Safari browser version.
Online Resources That Will Determine Your Browser
Multiple online resources can help you ascertain the type of browser you’re using. These sites autonomously check and display your browser version. They include:
Simply visiting one of the website will tell you what browser you are using.