Firefox is the Better Browser

I’ve been using Firefox for the past couple of years and ever since I made the switch I haven’t looked back. Sure, Microsoft has made an effort to play catch-up with the release of Internet Explorer 7. But, for me it just doesn’t cut it. This post is dedicated to Firefox and all of its great features. Before I get down to the details, lets revisit just what a web browser is.

A web browser is a piece of software that allows you to view a web page (which is just a html file). It takes the HTML code that makes up a web page and translates it into what you see on your screen. Different browsers interpret this code in different ways which can change the web page’s appearance. This is a subject of great debate amongst techies as web designers are forced to design their sites in such a way that they look the same across the 4 most popular browsers, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Opera. So why do I like Firefox so much? Keep reading!

Great Firefox Features

One of the great things about Firefox is how it allows you to use tabbed browsing. This means that you can have numerous web pages open inside one Firefox window. Each web page is given its own tab. Also, links that normally open a new browser window will just open another tab in Firefox. Each tab has its own “close button” but I’ve found that middle-clicking on the tabs to close them is the most convenient. Speaking of middle-clicking, that’s also the best way to open new tabs. When you come across a link that you want to check out, just middle-click the link. Firefox will open the link in a new tab without taking you away from the current page. That way you can finishing reading the page you’re on and then move on to you new tab later. The image below shows 3 tabs open in Firefox, one for the Firefox 2 page, my Gmail account, and my Google Reader page.

Firefox also has a Bookmark Toolbar (located just above the tabs). I keep a few of the bookmarks that I use the most on the toolbar for fast access. Firefox will even allow you to group bookmarks into a folder right on the toolbar to help keep things organized. Just like middle-clicking on links, if you middle-click on a bookmark it will open in a new tab. Middle-clicking on a folder will open all the bookmarks inside on their own tab. Convenient!

Firefox Security

Another great benefit of using Firefox is its commitment to security. According to the Firefox web page, “Firefox will not allow a Web site to download, install, or run programs on your computer without your explicit agreement. Period.” That’s comforting to know when there are so many malicious people out there on the web.

Additionally, Firefox allows you to clear all private data with the press of a single button. Whether you are at home, work, school, or the library, using the “Clear Private Data” tool will erase all private data in Firefox.

Firefox is Open Source

Firefox wasn’t developed by a money hungry, world dominating company. It was made by a community of developers who were all working towards creating a powerful, safe, and free web browser. That’s right, Firefox is 100% free.

If you want to learn more about Firefox, here’s a link so that you can download your copy of Firefox right away! Installing Firefox will not remove your current browser… though, I doubt you’ll use your old browser again once you give Firefox a try.