Contrasting Web Browsers with Search Engines

A browser is the software program that enables your computer to show you pages on the World Wide Web. A search engine helps you find pages (on the Web) about specific topics of interest

to you. Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer are browsers, programs you install on your own computer. AltaVista, Yahoo!, Lycos, Excite, and a host of other search engines are Web sites that can help you find stuff on the Web. Think of the browser as the telephone, and the search engine as the phone book, or maybe the directory assistance operator.

Browsing off

If you have Windows 95, 98, 2000, Windows NT, or any computer with Internet access, you probably already have a browser. One probably came from your Internet service provider (ISP), and you installed it when you installed the rest of your Internet software. If you don't have a browser or want to get a copy of Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer (most likely because you have one but want to try the other), you're only a few keystrokes away from a downloading the software from the Internet.

If you have access to any Web browser, try one of these Web sites:

• TUCOWS.

• The Consummate WinSock Applications.

• Netscape home page (for Netscape Navigator).