Introduction to Web Browsers (e.g., Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox): understanding their functions, features, and best practices for productivity and security.

Internet browser

General Understanding

What is a web browser and what is it used for

A web browser is a program that allows you to access the Internet and visit websites.

Thanks to it, we can read articles, watch videos, shop online, or check our emails.

The browser reads the code (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) sent by web servers and displays the pages in a way that is easy to read for the user.

Examples of browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Opera.

Difference between a browser and a search engine

The browser is the software (like Chrome or Edge).

The search engine is an online service (like Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo) that helps you find websites.

Example:

• You open Google Chrome (browser).

• You go to google.com (search engine).

• You type “how to create a presentation in PowerPoint” to find a web page on that topic.

Many people confuse them because the browser’s home page often shows a search engine.

Main parts of a browser

Here are the main elements you’ll find in every browser:

• Address bar: where you type the website address (URL), for example https://www.schiller.edu.

• Tabs: allow you to open several pages at the same time without closing others.

• Navigation buttons: Back, Forward, Refresh the page.

• Bookmarks (or favorites): save websites you want to visit again easily.

• History: list of all the pages you visited recently.

• Downloads: list of files you saved from the Internet.

Good Practices for Using a Browser

Opening, closing, and managing multiple tabs and windows

A browser can show several pages at the same time.

Each page is opened in a tab.

You can:

• Open a new tab to visit another site without closing the first one.

• Close a tab when you don’t need it anymore.

• Open a new window if you want to separate groups of tabs.

This helps you move easily from one page to another.

Useful keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts save time.

Here are the most useful ones:

These simple actions make browsing faster and easier.

Managing bookmarks and history

• Bookmarks (or favorites) let you save a website you want to visit again.

  Example: you add https://www.schiller.edu to your bookmarks to return later.

• The history keeps the list of all visited pages.

  You can use it to find a site you forgot to save.

You can delete your history to protect your privacy.

Downloading and managing files

When you click a download link, the browser saves the file to your computer (images, PDFs, documents, etc.).

• You can see the list of downloaded files inside the browser.

• Files are also stored in your Downloads folder.

• You can open, show in folder, or delete a file from that list.

⚠️ Always check the source of a download to avoid viruses or unsafe files.

Settings and Security

Cookies, cache, and clearing data

When you browse the Internet, your browser keeps some information:

• Cookies: small files created by websites to remember you (language, shopping cart, login info, etc.).

• Cache: temporary memory where the browser saves images and code so pages load faster next time.

Over time, these can take up space or slow down your browser.

It’s useful to clear cookies and cache regularly in the browser settings.

Private or incognito browsing

Private mode or incognito mode lets you browse without saving:

• your browsing history,

• cookies,

• or the list of downloaded files (the files stay on your computer, but not in the browser’s list).

This is useful on a public or shared computer, or when you want to search without the browser remembering it.

This mode does not make you invisible online — your Internet provider, school, or employer can still see what sites you visit.

3Internet security

To browse safely, learn to recognize signs of a trustworthy site:

• Address starts with “https://” → the “s” means secure (encrypted connection).

• Lock icon in the address bar → the site has a security certificate.

• Clear and consistent domain name → be careful with strange or long addresses (e.g., paypa1.com instead of paypal.com).

Never enter passwords or credit card numbers on a site that doesn’t show these signs.

Useful Tools for Work and Productivity

Page translation

Modern browsers like Google Chrome can automatically translate a page written in another language.

When you open a site in English, Spanish, or another language, a small window appears asking:

“Translate this page?”

You can then:

• Choose the language you want to read in (for example, “French”).

• Return to the original language if you prefer.

This is very helpful for reading foreign websites without using an external translator.

Printing or saving a page as PDF

You can print a web page or save it as a PDF to keep it offline.

1. Open the page you want.

2. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or ⌘ + P (Mac).

3. In the print window, choose:
   • Physical printer → to print on paper.
   • Save as PDF → to create a PDF file.

This is useful to save an article, a ticket, or proof of purchase.

Synchronizing a Google account

If you use Google Chrome, you can sign in with your Google account.

This lets you sync your data across all your devices (computer, phone, tablet):

• Bookmarks

• Browsing history

• Saved passwords

• Extensions and themes

When you log in on another device, you’ll find your entire setup again.

Important: always sign out on public computers to protect your data.

Firefox also has a sync system called Firefox Sync.

When you create or sign in to a Firefox account, the browser can save and sync:

• your bookmarks,

• your history,

• your passwords,

• your extensions,

• and even your open tabs.

You can then find the same environment on another device (computer, phone, or tablet) by logging in with the same account.

Search Engine

Definition and Role

• A search engine is a service that helps you find information on the Internet.

• It works in three main steps:
  1. Crawling – the search engine explores web pages.
  2. Indexing – it stores their content in a large database.
  3. Ranking – it sorts the results by relevance.

Examples of Search Engines

• The most common ones: Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, Qwant.

• Specialized search engines: YouTube (videos), Google Scholar (academic articles), Booking (travel).

• Ethical or eco-friendly engines: Ecosia (plants trees), Qwant (protects privacy).

Structure of a Search Results Page

• Search bar with automatic suggestions.

• Organic results – websites ranked by relevance.

• Sponsored links (ads) – paid advertisements at the top or side.

• Search filters – images, videos, news, maps, etc.

Good Search Practices

• Use precise keywords.

• Try different wordings.

• Use search operators (see “advanced search”):
  • "..." for exact phrases.
  • word to exclude a word.
  • site: to search inside one website.
  • filetype: to search for a type of file (PDF, DOCX, etc.).

Evaluating the Reliability of Sources

Check the author, the date, and the website

When you find information online, always check where it comes from.

Ask yourself these three questions:

• Who wrote it? → Look for the name of the author or organization.

  Example: an article from

  Le Monde

  UNESCO

• When? → Check the publication date.

  Information from 2015 may be false or outdated today.

• Where? → Look at the website domain name.

  Official sites often end with

  .gouv

  .edu

  .org

These clues help you decide if the source is serious and trustworthy.

Compare Several Sources

Never believe only one page without checking others.

Read several websites on the same topic to see if the information matches.

• If many reliable sources say the same thing, it’s a good sign.

• If you find very different versions, investigate more before deciding.

Comparing sources helps you avoid mistakes and understand the topic better.

Beware of Sensational or Unclear Websites

Some websites try to catch your attention with shocking or exaggerated titles.

Example: “You’ll never believe what this scientist discovered!”

These sites usually want clicks, not to inform you.

Be careful with sites that:

• have no “Contact” or “About” section,

• show a lot of strange ads,

• or mix facts and opinions without saying so.

If something seems too amazing, it’s probably too good to be true.

Privacy and Tracking

• Search engines like Google collect your search data to personalize results and ads.

• Alternatives like DuckDuckGo or Qwant do not store this data.

• Important concepts: search history and profiling.

Search history → the list of everything you’ve searched using a search engine.

• This history is often saved in your account (if you’re logged in) or in your browser.

• It helps you find old searches, but also lets Google personalize your results.

Profiling → when a search engine or website analyzes your habits to build a personal profile.

• It looks at what you search for, watch, the times you connect, and your location.

• From that data, it predicts what you like and shows targeted content — often ads or personalized results.

Connection with Office Tools

Searching for Resources for School or Work

When you do a project or an assignment, you can find online:

• Free-to-use images,

• Document templates (for Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.),

• Educational articles or videos.

Some useful websites:

• https://unsplash.com – free photos

• https://pixabay.com

• https://slidesgo.com – PowerPoint templates

⚠️ Always check that images or templates are “free for use” and credit the source if required.

Using Google Drive, Office.com, or Other Online Tools

These platforms let you create and share documents directly in your browser, without installing any software.

• Google Drive → create Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

• Office.com → create Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files online.

• Files are saved automatically in the cloud (online).

You can then:

• Work together on the same file,

• Share a link with your teacher or team,

• Access your files anywhere (computer, tablet, or phone).

It’s very practical for group projects or homework.

Recognizing Reliable Sources vs. Forums or Blogs

On the Internet, anyone can post information — but not everything is verified.

• A reliable source comes from an official site, institution, recognized media outlet, or expert.

  Example:

  who.int

  lemonde.fr

  bbc.com

  wikipedia.org

• A forum or personal blog shares opinions or experiences, not always true.

For academic or professional work, always use verified sources instead of forum discussions.