Microsoft Edge

Project Spartan logo

Microsoft Edge is a web browser developed by Microsoft, released in 2015. It was created to replace Internet Explorer as the default browser on Windows operating systems. Microsoft Edge was initially built with Microsoft's proprietary browser engine, EdgeHTML, and their Chakra JavaScript engine. However, in 2019, Microsoft announced a major shift in the development of Edge, transitioning to the Chromium open-source project, which also powers the Google Chrome browser, among others. This move aimed to improve web compatibility and performance.

History

The development of Microsoft Edge began in 2014 under the codename "Project Spartan." The browser was officially announced on March 30, 2015, during Microsoft's Build conference. It was touted for its performance improvements over Internet Explorer and its support for new web standards. The first public release of Edge came with Windows 10 on July 29, 2015.

In December 2018, Microsoft announced plans to rebuild Edge on the Chromium engine, citing the desire to provide better web compatibility for users and less fragmentation for web developers. The Chromium-based Edge was released on January 15, 2020, and is available not only for Windows but also for macOS, iOS, and Android platforms.

Features

Microsoft Edge includes features such as integration with Cortana, Microsoft's digital assistant, providing voice control, search functionality, and personalized information related to web browsing. It also introduced a reading mode, which simplifies the layout of web pages for easier reading, and the ability to annotate web pages. With the shift to Chromium, Edge gained compatibility with a vast library of extensions available through the Chrome Web Store, in addition to its own Microsoft Edge Addons store.

Edge also emphasizes privacy and security, with features like tracking prevention, which blocks trackers from websites you haven't directly visited, and Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, designed to protect against phishing and malware.

Reception

The reception to Microsoft Edge has been mixed. The original version of Edge received praise for its clean design and fast performance but was criticized for its lack of extensions and compatibility issues with some websites. The Chromium-based Edge has been better received, with many considering it a strong competitor to other leading browsers like Chrome and Firefox, thanks to its improved compatibility and performance, as well as its unique features.

Future Development

Microsoft continues to develop Edge, with regular updates that introduce new features, security enhancements, and performance improvements. The company has also been active in contributing to the Chromium project, helping to improve not only Edge but other browsers using the Chromium engine.