A Full Historical past of Web Explorer

On June 15, 2022, Microsoft lastly killed the a lot maligned Web Explorer. Nevertheless, regardless of its criticisms, it launched the web to hundreds of thousands. As Home windows took the lion’s share of private computer systems through the ’90s and 2000s, so did the pre-installed browser.

Nevertheless, as time handed, higher alternate options like Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome emerged. Ultimately, even Microsoft developed one other browser referred to as Microsoft Edge, supplanting Web Explorer as Window’s major web browser.

So, as one final hurrah, let’s return in time and take a look at the app that was Web Explorer (IE).

Web Explorer 1 (1994 to 1995)

The primary model of Web Explorer was born in 1994 when Thomas Reardon used supply code from the Mosaic browser developed by Spyglass, Inc. Microsoft then licensed this software program from Spyglass, Inc. for a quarterly payment and royalties from its non-Home windows gross sales.

Microsoft named this primary model Web Explorer, included with the Microsoft Plus! growth pack for Home windows 95. The preliminary six-person workforce then additional developed the browser to launch Web Explorer 1.5, which is now included without cost in all Home windows working techniques.

This led to Spyglass suing Microsoft since this transfer technically circumvented their contract. The latter settled the lawsuit for $8 million, whereas the previous was happy they did not have to audit Microsoft to depend their Home windows gross sales.

Web Explorer 2 (1995 to 1996)

This model is Microsoft’s second launch for his or her web browser and was additionally the primary model to help Apple Macintosh and PowerPCs. Microsoft additionally developed Web Explorer 2, so it might help as much as 24 languages, together with Chinese language, Japanese, and Korean.

Another options launched with IE2 that we nonetheless use in the present day embody SSL protocols, HTTP cookies, SMTP and POP protocols, and bookmarks.

Web Explorer 3 (1996 to 1997)

Regardless of IE1 and IE2 coming free with Home windows, Microsoft could not dethrone its prime browser competitor, Netscape Navigator. Nevertheless, the 1996 launch of IE3 lastly landed a knockout blow to the latter.

This model began supporting Netscape plugins, thus permitting customers to customise their browser as they want. It is also the primary IE browser suitable with ActiveX and frames—applied sciences we nonetheless use in the present day.

Web Explorer 4 (1997 to 1999)

The fourth IE model was the primary to combine the desktop expertise with the web, thus enabling Window’s Energetic Desktop. This function is much like Home windows 11’s Widgets, the place customers can add on-line content material to their desktop through IE4.

Throughout its launch, the browser wars first heated up, resulting in the US authorities suing Microsoft for its monopolistic practices, which included bundling IE with Home windows and making it more durable to put in competing browsers like Netscape Navigator and Opera.

Though it misplaced the case within the district trial, with the decide ordering a break up of Microsoft, the corporate utilized for and was granted an attraction by the US Supreme Court docket for a lesser penalty. Microsoft then talked with the DOJ and settled the case, with the previous required by the federal government to share its API with third-party firms.

Web Explorer 5 (1999 to 2001)

Though IE5 did not deliver any new major options to the browser, it was an incremental enchancment to IE4. It was additionally the IE browser that had the widest help, the place it was accessible for Home windows 3.1, Home windows NT 3.0, Home windows 95, Home windows NT 4.0, Home windows 98, Mac OS, Mac OS X, Solaris, and HP-UX. It was additionally initially included with Home windows 98 SE, Home windows 2000, and Window ME however was quickly phased out in favor of IE6.

This browser claimed as much as 80% market share in browsers proper earlier than the following model was launched.

Web Explorer 6 (2001 to 2006)

This model of Web Explorer grew to become probably the most widespread browsers of all time, cornering 90% of the market. For those who embody different IE variations at its peak, Microsoft equipped 95% of all browsers used globally, thus cementing its win within the first browser wars.

Regardless of that, this model is the place cracks first began to seem in its facade. Web Explorer 6 had quite a few safety points, requiring a number of patches. Though these issues weren’t distinctive to IE, it was probably the most affected browser due to its large market share.

It additionally had a number of bugs, making it much less succesful than different competing browsers. A few of these had been so dangerous that if some code had been written on an internet site, it could trigger IE to crash. All these points led to the rise of Mozilla Firefox as a greater different in 2004, with it frequently competing with Microsoft since then and releasing its a centesimal model in Could 2022.

Web Explorer 7 (2006 to 2009)

With Mozilla Firefox introducing tabs to mainstream browsers, Web Explorer additionally launched it with its seventh model. However this time, it’s also possible to handle tabs through drag-and-drop and preview all of your open tabs.

Microsoft additionally improved safety by lowering IE’s integrity, thus limiting its read-write capabilities to the consumer profile. This ensures that undetected or unresolved safety points would not considerably have an effect on the consumer.

IE7 can be the primary browser to function Delete Looking Historical past, which clears your cache, historical past, cookies, saved knowledge, and passwords in a single click on. You’ll be able to then use this to clear your info on the browser if you happen to’re utilizing a public terminal or web café.

Web Explorer 8 (2009 to 2011)

This model of IE is suitable with Home windows XP Service Pack 2 and Home windows Vista. It is also included in Home windows 7. The browser additional enhances stability, privateness, and safety by introducing a number of new options.

A few of these embody InPrivate shopping, which lets you surf the web with out leaving any traces in your browser, and Computerized Tab-Crash Restoration, which ensures that solely the particular tab is affected when an online web page crashes—not the complete browser window.

It additionally has a number of incremental enhancements, permitting for a seamless consumer expertise, together with Accelerators, Favorites Bar, SmartScreen Filters, and extra.

Web Explorer 9 (2011 to 2012)

That is one other short-lived model of Web Explorer, launched for less than a yr till the following model changed it. Nonetheless, it introduced a number of enhancements with it. These embody a extra streamlined interface, a quicker JavaScript engine, improved CSS help, compatibility with numerous HTML5 parts, and layered malware safety.

IE9 dropped help for Home windows XP however retained compatibility for Home windows Vista and Home windows 7.

Web Explorer 10 (2011 to 2013)

IE10 is primarily designed for Home windows 8 and its Metro design language. Nevertheless, it is nonetheless suitable with Home windows 7, however Home windows Vista is now not supported.

That is one other incremental improve to the earlier Web Explorer model, with few new options. Nevertheless, this model’s one distinguished function was its incorporation of Adobe Flash, thus permitting for smoother efficiency, lowered energy consumption, and enhanced safety when web sites have Flash content material.

Web Explorer 11 (2013 to 2015/2022)

IE11 is the final model of Web Explorer ever to launch, and though it nonetheless hasn’t added any new important options, its efficiency has markedly elevated. Though Web Explorer is taken into account sluggish and laggy by many customers, primarily due to the poor efficiency of IE6, it has since improved.

In a benchmark by SitePoint in 2013, Web Explorer 11 bested Chrome 30 and Firefox 26 in three out of 4 exams. One other SitePoint benchmark in 2015 in contrast IE11 with Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. This time IE11 got here in final in two out of three exams, however it nonetheless ranked second within the third one—this regardless of IE now not being actively developed in favor of Microsoft Edge.

Though Web Explorer was now not actively developed when Microsoft Edge was launched in 2015, the corporate stored IE alive till 2022. It’s because some company shoppers have problem upgrading their techniques, so Microsoft needed to help it for seven years, giving them greater than sufficient time to change to Microsoft Edge.

It is Time to Say Goodbye to Web Explorer

Web Explorer had an astounding 28-year run, putting in it in various Home windows OSes from Home windows 3.1 to Home windows 10. Though the web browser now has a foul repute, primarily introduced by the failures of IE6 when it was at its peak, we can’t ignore the immense influence of its legacy.

This browser launched a number of applied sciences nonetheless in use in the present day, together with cookies, SSL protocols, Computerized Tab-Crash Restoration, and extra. And regardless of its failings, we can’t low cost that no less than three generations found the web with Web Explorer.