Safari (web browser)

Safari is a web browser developed by Apple. A web browser is the software used to access and view websites on the internet. Safari is a major player in this field, ranking as the second most used browser globally, trailing only Google Chrome.

It is deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem. It comes built into several operating systems, including macOS for computers, iOS and iPadOS for mobile devices, and visionOS.

At its core, Safari operates using a browser engine called WebKit. An engine is the underlying software that renders web pages so users can see them. WebKit is an open-source engine that was derived from a previous engine known as KHTML.

By using WebKit, Safari can process complex code to display text, images, and videos. Apple also developed specific components like JavaScriptCore to help the browser interpret the scripts that make websites interactive.

The development of Safari has moved through many distinct technological stages. In its early years, the focus was on raw speed and basic rendering. Safari 4 marked a major milestone by becoming the first version to completely pass the Acid3 rendering test.

This version also introduced HTML5 support and a JavaScript engine called SquirrelFish. This engine improved script performance by 29.9x. Later, an evolution called SquirrelFish Extreme, or Nitro, increased that performance by 63.6x.

Safari's history began with a desire to challenge the dominant browsers of the late 1990s. During that era, Mac users primarily relied on Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer. In 1997, Apple actually signed a five-year agreement to make Internet Explorer the default browser on Mac systems. To change this, Apple began developing its own solution. On January 7, 2003, CEO Steve Jobs introduced Safari at Macworld San Francisco. He described it as a "turbo browser" designed for speed. During its creation, developers used various codenames, such as "Freedom," "iBrowse," and "Alexander."

As the software matured, Apple introduced features to improve user experience and privacy. Safari 5, released in 2010, introduced a "reader mode" to provide a continuous view of text without advertisements.

In 2017, Safari 11 introduced Intelligent Tracking Prevention. This feature uses artificial intelligence to block web tracking, which helps protect user privacy. Safari 13 later added support for Apple Pay and FIDO2 security keys to make digital transactions more secure. The visual look of the browser has also changed through redesigns in Safari 15, 18, and 26.

Safari has also had a complex relationship with different hardware platforms. While it is now exclusive to Apple devices, Apple maintained a version for Windows between 2007 and 2012. The Windows version of Safari 3 was noted for being very fast at loading initial data from the internet.

However, Apple eventually abandoned the Windows version due to low market share. In 2007, Safari was also ported to the original iPhone. This mobile version used a modified version of the WebKit engine to better suit a handheld device.

Today, Safari remains a vital part of how millions of people interact with the digital world. It connects to broader technological systems like iCloud, which allows for features like iCloud Tabs to sync open websites across different devices. By combining high-speed engines with advanced privacy tools, Safari continues to evolve alongside the changing needs of the internet.