Part of the Software applications glossary:

Safari is Apple's default Web browser. Apple developed the browser for OS X and released it in 2003.  

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Apple released an updated beta version of Safari 4 in February 2009. In addition to features common to most current browsers, Safari's features include:

  • Nitro JavaScript engine, said to execute JS much faster than Internet Explorer or Firefox.
  • RSS feed aggregator.
  • A private browsing mode that doesn't save browsing history or related information.
  • The ability to zoom in on Web page details.
  • Custom style sheets.
  • Integrated Quicktime multimedia player.
  • The ability to archive or email a Web page.
  • Support for VoiceOver, an application that describes Web page content and reads text aloud.
  • Options for keyboard-only navigation.
  • A thumbnail display of the user's most visited sites.
  • Apple's Keychain identify management scheme for password management.
  • Integration with Apple's iWeb software.

Safari is based upon Apple's Webkit, an application framework based upon two open source frameworks: WebCore and JavascriptCore. The source code for the non-rendering portions of Safari are all available at OpenDarwin.org.

The iPhone  and iPod Touch run an adapted version of Safari. There is also a version of the browser for Windows XP and Vista. As of January 2009, Safari controlled 8.29 percent of the browser market.

 

Learn More About IT:
> Apple offers more information, images and free downloads of  Safari.
> Wikipedia has more information about the history of Safari.
> Kris Abel reviews Safari 4.

This was last updated in March 2009
Posted by: Margaret Rouse

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