Internet Basics with Web Browsers and Tabs

What a Web Browser Does (in Everyday Use)

A web browser is the app you use to visit websites and use web services (news, email, banking, maps, shopping). When you enter a web address (a URL) or click a link, the browser requests the page from the website’s server over the internet and then displays it for you. Think of the browser as the “viewer and navigator” for the web: it fetches pages, shows text/images/video, and lets you move between pages.

Getting Comfortable with the Browser Window Layout

Most modern browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari) share the same main parts. Knowing what each part does makes browsing faster and less confusing.

Address Bar (URL Bar / Omnibox)

The address bar is where you can type a website address (URL), such as https://www.example.com. Many browsers also let you type a search query there, but in this chapter we’ll focus on using it to open specific websites.

Back and Forward

• Back returns to the previous page you visited in the current tab.
• Forward goes to the next page (only works after you’ve used Back).

Refresh / Reload

Refresh reloads the current page. Use it if a page looks incomplete, you suspect it didn’t load correctly, or you want to see updated content.

Home (Sometimes Present)

Some browsers show a Home button that takes you to a chosen start page. If you don’t see it, it may be hidden in settings.

Continue in our app.

You can listen to the audiobook with the screen off, receive a free certificate for this course, and also have access to 5,000 other free online courses.

Or continue reading below...

Download the app

Bookmarks Bar and Bookmark (Star) Button

Bookmarks save shortcuts to pages you want to return to. Many browsers show a bookmarks bar under the address bar (it can be turned on/off). There is often a star icon near the address bar to bookmark the current page quickly.

Tabs Bar

Tabs appear along the top of the browser window. Each tab is like a separate “page workspace” inside the same window.

Menu (Three Dots / Three Lines)

The browser menu contains tools and settings such as History, Downloads, Bookmarks manager, Print, Zoom, Extensions/Add-ons, and Private/Incognito mode.

Page Area

This is the main area where the website content appears. Links, buttons, forms, and videos are all inside the page area.

Practice: Opening Websites

Method 1: Type a URL in the Address Bar

Use this when you know the exact website address.

1. Click once in the address bar (most browsers highlight the current text automatically).
2. Type a full URL, for example: https://www.wikipedia.org
3. Press Enter (or Return on Mac).

Tip: If you make a small typing mistake, the page may not load. Click the address bar again, correct the URL, and press Enter.

Method 2: Click a Link on a Page

Links take you from one page to another.

1. Open a page that contains links (for example, a news site or an information page).
2. Move your pointer over a link. The pointer often changes (commonly to a hand), and the browser may show the link destination near the bottom of the window.
3. Click the link once to open it in the current tab.

Open a link in a new tab: Right-click the link (or Control-click on Mac) and choose Open link in new tab. This is useful when you want to keep your current page open.

Tabs vs. Windows (and When to Use Each)

What Is a Tab?

A tab is one browsing session inside a browser window. Tabs let you keep multiple pages open without cluttering your screen with multiple windows.

What Is a Window?

A window is a separate browser frame on your desktop. You might use multiple windows when you want to view pages side-by-side (for example, comparing two documents on a large monitor).

Working with Tabs: Open, Close, Reorder, Restore

Open a New Tab

• Click the + button on the tab bar, or
• Use a keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + T (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + T (Mac).

Close a Tab

• Click the X on the tab, or
• Use a keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + W (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + W (Mac).

Note: Closing a tab does not uninstall anything or delete your computer files; it only closes that page session.

Reorder Tabs

To rearrange tabs, click and hold a tab, then drag it left or right and release it where you want it.

Move a Tab to a New Window

Click and drag a tab away from the tab bar; it will “pop out” into its own window. You can also drag a tab from one window into another window’s tab bar.

Restore a Closed Tab

If you accidentally close a tab, you can usually reopen it quickly:

• Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + T (Mac).
• Or open the browser menu and look for History → Recently closed.

Tip: You can often press the restore shortcut multiple times to reopen several recently closed tabs.

Guided Task: Open Two Sites in Separate Tabs

1. Open your browser.
2. In the first tab, click the address bar, type https://www.wikipedia.org, and press Enter.
3. Open a new tab (Ctrl+T / Cmd+T).
4. In the new tab, type https://www.weather.com (or another weather site you prefer) and press Enter.
5. Switch between tabs by clicking each tab title.
6. Reorder the tabs by dragging the weather tab to the left of the Wikipedia tab (or vice versa).

Bookmarks: Save Pages You Use Often

Bookmarks are best for pages you return to regularly (a school portal, a bank login page, a schedule, a reference site). They save time and reduce typing mistakes.

Guided Task: Bookmark a Frequently Used Page

1. Go to a page you want to save (for example, your email provider’s main page).
2. Click the star (bookmark) icon near the address bar (or open the menu and choose Bookmark / Add to bookmarks).
3. Choose a name you’ll recognize (e.g., Email Login).
4. Choose where to save it (Bookmarks bar is convenient if you use it often).
5. Click Save / Done.

Use and Manage Bookmarks

• To open a bookmark, click it in the bookmarks bar or find it in the bookmarks menu.
• To organize bookmarks, open the browser menu → Bookmarks → Bookmark manager (name may vary). You can create folders like Work, School, Shopping.
• To edit or delete a bookmark, right-click it (or Control-click on Mac) and choose Edit or Delete.

Private/Incognito Mode: What It Does and Does Not Do

Private/Incognito mode opens a special window designed to reduce what is saved on your device after you close it.

What Private/Incognito Mode Does

• Does not keep browsing history from that private window after you close all private tabs/windows.
• Does not keep form entries and search entries from that private session (varies slightly by browser).
• Typically deletes cookies created during that private session when you close the private window (which can sign you out of websites when you close it).

What Private/Incognito Mode Does NOT Do

• It does not make you anonymous to websites you visit. Websites can still see your activity from their side.
• It does not hide your activity from your internet provider, employer, school, or network administrator when using their network.
• It does not protect you from malware or unsafe downloads by itself.
• It does not prevent a website from recognizing you if you log in (once you sign in, the site knows it’s you).

How to Open Private/Incognito Mode

• Open the browser menu (three dots/lines) and choose New Incognito Window or New Private Window.
• Keyboard shortcut (common): Ctrl + Shift + N (Chrome/Edge on Windows) or Cmd + Shift + N (Chrome on Mac); Ctrl + Shift + P (Firefox).

Quick Practice: Use Private Mode for a Shared Computer

1. Open a Private/Incognito window.
2. Visit a website you would not want left in history on a shared device (for example, your email provider’s homepage).
3. Close all private tabs and the private window.
4. Back in a normal window, open History and confirm the private browsing pages are not listed.