What is a web browser?

A web browser opens websites and web applications and allows interaction with them. It requests content, processes HTML structure and CSS styling, and can execute JavaScript. A search engine is a service for finding information on the web, rather than the same thing as a browser.

What happens when a page opens?

The browser establishes a connection, retrieves a document and loads required images, fonts and code. It combines structure and styling to draw the page. Cached resources can reduce repeated downloads. Cookies and other storage mechanisms may retain sessions or preferences, but these are different technologies and not every cookie is used for tracking. Browsers also manage permission to access capabilities such as cameras. An error on one page need not mean the entire browser is defective.

What do private browsing, extensions and updates provide?

Private browsing generally limits history and session information retained on the device after the session; it does not provide complete internet anonymity. Services, network administrators or providers may still observe information. Extensions add functionality but can read page content depending on permissions, making unnecessary extensions an additional exposure. Updated browsers receive security fixes. Display problems require separating connection, cache and website faults. A secure-connection indicator also does not guarantee the truth of every claim on a page.