Chrome

Google Chrome is Google's cross-platform web browser. It was first published for Microsoft Windows in 2008, and it was constructed using free software components from Apple WebKit and Mozilla Firefox.Later, versions were created for Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android, where it is the default browser.The browser is also a key component of ChromeOS, acting as a platform for web apps.

Although the majority of Chrome's source code is derived from Google's free and open-source software project Chromium, Chrome is licenced as proprietary freeware.WebKit was the initial rendering engine, but Google forked it to develop the Blink engine;as of 2017, all Chrome variations except iOS used Blink.

StatCounter estimates that Chrome has a 67% worldwide browser market share (after peaking at 72.38% in November 2018) on personal computers (PC), is the most popular on tablets (having surpassed Safari), and is also dominant on smartphones, making it the most popular web browser in the world today. As a result of its success, Google has expanded the "Chrome" brand name to include other products such as ChromeOS, Chromecast, Chromebook, Chromebit, Chromebox, and others.

History

For six years, Google CEO Eric Schmidt fought against the creation of an independent web browser. He added that "at the time, Google was a small company," and that he did not want to experience "bruising browser wars." Schmidt stated that after co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page hired numerous Mozilla Firefox developers and produced a Chrome demonstration, "it was so good that it essentially forced me to change my mind.

Rumours about Google developing a web browser initially surfaced in September 2004. At the time, online journals and US newspapers reported that Google was hiring former Microsoft web developers, among others. It also occurred shortly after the release of Mozilla Firefox 1.0, which was gaining popularity and eclipsing Internet Explorer in terms of market share.