Web Browser (Cambridge International IGCSE Computer Science)
Exam board Cambridge International · IGCSEUpdated 2025-10-27
Spec point — "4 Explain the purpose and functions of a web browser 5 Describe how web pages are located, retrieved and displayed on a device when a user enters a URL"
Web Browser
What is a web browser?
- A web browser is a piece of software used to access and display information on the internet
- A web browser **displays web pages **by rendering hypertext markup language (HTML)
- Web browsers** interpret the code in HTML** documents and translate it into a visual display for the user
Functions of a web browser
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
| Provide navigation tools | E.g. back/forward buttons and home button, to help users move between pages |
| Storing bookmarks & favourites | Allow users to save links to frequently visited websites and access them easily |
| Storing cookies | Cookies |
| Record user history | Allow users to quickly revisit recently viewed web pages |
| Provide address bar | A place for user to type in the URL (link to URL page) of a web page to visit |
| Multiple tabs | Allow multiple web pages to be open at once so users can quickly switch between them |
Exam Hint Rendering HTML is how a web browser displays web pages, but in CIE IGCSE exams, questions about functions usually expect user-facing features such as navigation tools, bookmarks, tabs, or cookies.
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