Selaimista

Selaimista is a Finnish term used in Finnish-language contexts to refer to web browsers. Web browsers are software applications that retrieve, render, and interact with content on the World Wide Web. They provide interfaces for navigating pages, managing bookmarks, and controlling privacy and security settings.

Historically, browser development began in the early 1990s with graphical explorers such as Mosaic and Netscape Navigator, which popularized access to the web. Since then, major platforms emerged, including Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Apple Safari, and Microsoft Edge. Today, most browsers are cross‑platform and support modern web standards.

Rendering engines form a core component of browsers. Engines such as Blink (used by Chrome and Edge), WebKit (used by Safari), and Gecko (used by Firefox) interpret HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to display content and enable interactivity. Some engines have been retired or replaced as standards and performance requirements evolve.

Security and privacy are central concerns for browsers. Modern browsers implement sandboxing, same-origin policy, site isolation, and regular security updates to protect users from threats. They offer private or incognito modes, tracking protection, password managers, and configurable privacy settings. The effectiveness of privacy protection also depends on user choices and installed extensions.

Features and standards drive browser ecosystems. Key attributes include JavaScript engines, extension ecosystems, device syncing, and built‑in developer tools. Compliance with web standards such as HTML5, CSS3, and modern JavaScript ensures broad compatibility. The WebExtensions API provides a common model for browser extensions.

Notable examples of browsers include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Opera. Mobile versions are available on iOS and Android, often with features tailored to mobile usage, such as reader modes and integrated authentication.