With Microsoft finally ending its support for the iconic web browser, Internet Explorer, an era has come to an end. This browser was first launched in the year 1995 with its last version released in the year 2013 before being replaced by Microsoft Edge.
Internet Explorer was once a dominant browser that reached a peak of 95% market share back in 2003.
The announcement of the retirement of the browser did not come out of the blue. Earlier in May 2024, the company announced that the application will go out of support on June 15, 2024. Microsoft had said, “Not only is Microsoft Edge a faster, more secure, and more modern browsing experience than Internet Explorer, but it is also able to address a key concern: compatibility for legacy websites and applications”.
However, Microsoft in a technical FAQ, mentioned that it will only phase-out on Windows 10 20H2. Operating systems, Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and some versions of Windows 10 Server would not be affected.
As of May 2024, Google Chrome is the leading internet browser across the world with more than six in ten people using it to browse the internet. The global share of Google Chrome is at 64.91%.
Meanwhile, Apple Safari is in the second position with a 19.03% share. Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox are the next two most used web browsers, with market shares of 3.99% and 3.26% respectively.
