A web browser is a software application that allows users to access and view websites and web pages on the internet. It serves as an interface between users and the World Wide Web, enabling them to navigate through different websites, interact with web-based applications, and consume online content.

Web browsers provide a graphical user interface (GUI) that presents web content in a visually appealing and user-friendly manner. They interpret and render HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) documents, which are the building blocks of web pages, along with other web technologies such as CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and JavaScript. By processing these languages, browsers display text, images, multimedia elements, and interactive features, ensuring that websites are displayed as intended by their creations.

Some popular web browsers include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Opera. Each browser may have its own unique features, user interface, and performance characteristics, but they all serve the common purpose of allowing users to browse the internet and access web-based content.

In addition to displaying websites, modern web browsers often offer various additional functionalities. These can include bookmark management, tabbed browsing (allowing multiple web pages to be open simultaneously within the same window), extensions and add-ons for customization, private browsing modes for enhanced privacy, and synchronization of settings and bookmarks across devices.

Overall, web browsers play a fundamental role in enabling users to explore the vast realm of the internet and interact with its diverse range of websites and online services.