Chromium (web browser)

Chromium (web browser)
Name	Chromium
Caption	Chromium 48 running on Ubuntu
Developer	The Chromium Project
Released	02 September 2008
Programming language	C++, Assembly, Python, JavaScript, Java
Engine	Blink, V8
Operating system	Linux, macOS, Windows, Android
Genre	Web browser
License	BSD-style licenses

Chromium (web browser). Chromium is a free and open-source web browser project primarily developed and maintained by Google. The source code serves as the foundation for many popular browsers, most notably Google Chrome, and is governed by the Chromium Project. Its development philosophy emphasizes speed, stability, and security, providing a base upon which other developers can build.

Overview

The Chromium browser provides the core user interface, Blink rendering engine, and V8 JavaScript engine used by several major browsers. It is distributed under a permissive BSD license, allowing third parties to freely use and modify the code. The project is steered by Google engineers, with significant contributions from the open-source community and other technology companies like Microsoft and Opera. Unlike its derivative Google Chrome, Chromium omits certain proprietary features such as automatic updates, integrated Adobe Flash Player support, and licensed codecs.

History

Google announced the Chromium project in September 2008 alongside the initial release of Google Chrome. The decision to open-source the code was influenced by the success of projects like the WebKit engine and the Mozilla Firefox browser. Early builds were released for Windows, with ports to Linux and macOS following shortly after. A major architectural shift occurred in 2013 when Google forked the WebCore component of WebKit to create its own Blink engine. This move was coordinated with Opera Software and aimed to streamline the codebase for Chromium's multi-process model.

Features

Chromium includes a minimalist interface centered on the omnibox, which combines the address bar and search function. Key features include a multi-process architecture that isolates individual tabs, robust support for HTML5 and CSS standards, and an extensive system for managing cookies and site data. It pioneered the sandboxing of extensions and introduced the now-ubiquitous per-tab process model to enhance stability. The browser also supports Progressive Web Apps and includes built-in developer tools for debugging web applications.

Architecture

Chromium employs a multi-process architecture where the browser kernel, renderer processes, plugin processes, and GPU processes run in separate, sandboxed memory spaces. This design, influenced by the Principle of least privilege, limits the impact of security vulnerabilities. The rendering is handled by the Blink engine, while JavaScript execution is managed by the V8 engine, a project originally created by Lars Bak at Google. Inter-process communication is facilitated by the Mojo system, and the Skia Graphics Engine handles low-level graphics operations.

Relationship to Google Chrome

Google Chrome is the proprietary, branded version of Chromium produced by Google. Chrome integrates several closed-source components not present in Chromium, including a built-in PDF viewer, the Widevine digital rights management module, and licensed media codecs like AAC and H.264. Chrome also features an automated update system and integrated support for services like Google Cloud Print. While the two browsers are nearly identical in core functionality and appearance, Chrome includes additional tracking mechanisms and proprietary APIs tied to the Google ecosystem.

Forks and derivatives

The open-source nature of Chromium has led to the creation of numerous independent browsers. Notable forks include Microsoft Edge, which transitioned to the Chromium codebase in 2020, and Opera, which adopted Chromium's Blink engine in 2013. Privacy-focused derivatives such as Brave and Ungoogled Chromium modify the code to remove telemetry and Google service integrations. Other significant projects built on Chromium include Amazon Silk, Vivaldi, and the Electron framework for desktop applications.

Category:Web browsers Category:Free software programmed in C++ Category:Google software