When you type a website address into your phone or computer and press enter, something opens it up and shows it to you. That something is a web browser, and it’s one of the most useful tools on any device.

Most people use a browser every day without thinking about it. This guide explains what it actually is and how to make the most of a few simple features that save time.

What is a web browser?

A web browser is an app that lets you visit websites. Think of it as a window onto the internet, it reads the code that websites are built with and turns it into the pages, pictures, and text you see on screen.

Common browsers include:

Safari, the default on iPhones, iPads, and Apple computers. The icon is a blue compass.
Google Chrome, very popular, available on every device. The icon is a coloured circle.
Microsoft Edge, the default on Windows computers.
Firefox, another popular choice, known for privacy.

They all do the same basic job. If you’re not sure which one you use, look at the icon you tap to visit websites, it’s almost certainly one of the four above.

The address bar

At the top of your browser window is a long bar where you can type. This is called the address bar.

You can use it in two ways:

Type a web address (also called a URL), for example, www.bbc.co.uk, and press Go or Return. The browser takes you straight to that website.
Type a search, just type what you’re looking for (e.g. “best baked potato recipe”) and press Go. The browser searches Google (or whichever search engine it uses) and shows you results.

Most people use the address bar for searches most of the time. You don’t need to know exact website addresses.

Tabs, having more than one thing open at once

Your browser can have several websites open at the same time, each in its own tab. Tabs appear along the top of the screen on a computer, or as a small number at the bottom on an iPhone.

To open a new tab:

On a phone: tap the square icon (it shows a number, how many tabs are open) and then tap the + button.
On a computer: press Ctrl + T (Windows) or Command + T (Mac), or click the + at the top of the screen.

To close a tab: tap or click the × next to it. Closing a tab doesn’t delete anything, you can always go back to a website by searching for it again.

Tip: if you’ve accidentally closed a tab, press Ctrl + Shift + T on a computer (or Command + Shift + T on a Mac) to reopen it.

Bookmarks, saving your favourite websites

If you visit a website regularly, you can save it as a bookmark so you can find it again quickly without searching.

To bookmark a page:

On iPhone/Safari: tap the share icon (a box with an arrow pointing up) at the bottom of the screen, then tap Add Bookmark.
On Chrome (computer): click the star icon in the address bar, or press Ctrl + D (Windows) / Command + D (Mac).

Your bookmarks are saved and easy to find in a menu usually labelled Bookmarks or Favourites. On iPhone Safari, tap the open book icon at the bottom of the screen.

Tip: you can also add a website to your iPhone’s home screen (tap the share icon, then Add to Home Screen) so it works almost like an app, one tap and you’re there.

Going back and forward

The back arrow (◀) in the top-left corner takes you back to the previous page. Press it repeatedly to go further back through pages you’ve visited. The forward arrow (▶) moves you the other way.

On a computer, you can also use the keyboard: Alt + ← arrow (Windows) or Command + ← arrow (Mac) to go back.

Refreshing a page

If a webpage isn’t loading properly or seems out of date, you can refresh it, this tells the browser to reload it from the internet.

On iPhone: pull the page down slightly from the top and let go.
On a computer: press F5 (Windows) or Command + R (Mac), or click the circular arrow icon near the address bar.

A note on security

The address bar also tells you whether a website is secure. Look for a small padlock icon at the left of the address, and check that the address starts with https:// (the “s” stands for secure). Most reputable websites have this.

If you see a warning that a site is “Not Secure” or the padlock is broken, be careful about entering any personal details, passwords, payment information, or your address.

You don’t need to remember it all

Browsers are designed to be forgiving. You can’t really break anything by clicking around. If you end up somewhere you didn’t mean to be, just press the back arrow or close the tab and start again.

If you’d like a one-to-one session to get comfortable using the internet on your device, whether it’s a phone, tablet, or laptop, get in touch with Hebden Tech Tutors. We come to you, at your own pace.