Web Browser
A Web Browser is a computer program (software) which enables you to look at Web pages on the World Wide Web. You are using a Web Browser now to look to look at this Web page which is coming from City College Manchester.

The 2 most popular Web Browsers are Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.

You can use a Web Browser to surf the Web without knowing all the commands linked with it. However it is wise to learn a few of its features, like the Back button and the X, which you will find useful....

The Back button takes you back one Web page each time it is clicked. Try it - use the Back button bring back the blue navigation buttons after clicking here. You will need to use the Back button a lot as you follow this course because sometimes, when you click on a link, a new Web page will fill the screen so that you cannot see the blue navigation buttons on the left.

Clicking on the X in the top right hand corner shuts down the browser window. Try it - Click on the X in the top right hand corner of the new window which opens when you click here.

When a Web page is quite large Scroll bars sometimes appear at the sides. These are used to move the page up and down (side scroll bar) or left and right (bottom scroll bar). Try it - when you click here a big page will appear with a message at the bottom. You will need to scroll down to read it.

WARNING - Many Web sites contain adult content such as pornographic pictures. Do not let young children surf the WWW without an adult unless safeguards are in place to prevent them being exposed to these sites. The Web Browser can be set to minimise this risk or special software such as NetNanny can be installed. The following links give more information: