Google Chrome browser is a free web browser used for accessing the internet and running web-based applications. The Google Chrome browser is based on the Open Source Chromium web browser project. Google released Chrome in 2008 and issues several updates a year.
Google Chrome is available for Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS and Linux desktop operating systems (OSes), as well as the Android and iOS mobile operating systems. Google Chrome is the default browser for Google devices including Android phones and Chromebook laptops. It is the most used web browser, with 66% of the market as of November 2022, according to StatCounter.
Google Chrome
| Application Name | Google Chrome |
| Rating | 4.0 star |
| Downloads | 1KCr+ |
| Reviews | 4.65Cr |
| Content rating | Rated for 3+ |
Google Chrome features
Omnibox search: combines Chrome’s address bar with a Google search bar, letting users search and type in a URL all in one place. The Omnibox also lets users search for text inside webpages.
Right-click to search: highlighted text allows users to highlight any text on a webpage, right-click it and perform a Google search.
Password protection: uses encryption to generate, store and protect user passwords. Google automatically fills in users’ passwords and monitors whether any have been exposed in data breaches.
Chrome extensions: also known as Chrome apps and Google apps, are HTML and JavaScript-based programs to enable customization of the browser. Extensions include Google Dictionary, which provides definition pop-up bubbles for words on webpages, and developer tools like JSON Formatter. Chrome extensions are available on the Chrome Web Store.
Incognito mode: is a safe browsing feature that lets users search the internet on Google Chrome without Google logging their browsing history, cookies, site data and information submitted in online forms. Google disables extensions in incognito by default to protect privacy, though users can manually enable them.
Syncing across devices: is possible when users turn sync on in settings. This allows them to access their passwords, bookmarks, payment information and Gmail account on any device.
Dark mode: lets users darken their browser windows for nighttime browsing. Chrome also lets users customize the browser with themes and colors.
Google Chrome vs. competitor browsers
Google Chrome is often compared to competing browsers including Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox in the following categories.
Market share
The following table shows the global market share of web browsers on desktop and mobile platforms as of November 2022 according to Statcounter:
| Browser | global market share |
|---|---|
| Chrome | 66% |
| Safari | 19% |
| edge | 4% |
| firefox | 3% |
Google Chrome User performance
According to tests run on virtual machines, Firefox uses more random access memory (RAM) than Edge and Chrome. RAM usage affects browser and computer performance. Browsers that use more memory can slow down performance and use more compute resources. However, Chrome has been found to use more RAM when multiple tabs are open than browsers like Edge.
Google Chrome Security
In terms of security, Chrome stacks up well against Edge, Safari, and Firefox. All four have the following features:
- Cookie Management
- Password storage for autofilling
- Browser history and cache management
- Custom site blocking
How to install Google Chrome browser
- Open your Internet browser and go to the Google Chrome download page.
- Click the Download Chrome button in the center of the page.
- Once the download has completed, click Run or the downloaded file itself (usually in the lower-left corner of your browser window).
- Follow the prompts to install Google Chrome.