Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer
source
Name	Internet Explorer
Developer	Microsoft
Released	16 August 1995
Discontinued	15 June 2022
Final release	11.0.220
Final release date	11 May 2021
Replaced by	Microsoft Edge
Programming language	C++
Operating system	Windows 95, Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, macOS, Solaris, HP-UX
Genre	Web browser
License	Proprietary

Internet Explorer. It was a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as a core component of the Microsoft Windows operating system from 1995 until its retirement. The browser played a pivotal role in the First Browser War, achieving near-total market dominance in the early 2000s. Its integration with Windows 98 and subsequent versions was a central focus of the United States v. Microsoft Corp. antitrust case. Development ceased in favor of its successor, Microsoft Edge, with final support ending in 2022.

History

The project, originally named Microsoft Plus!, began in 1994 as an adaptation of Spyglass, Inc.'s Mosaic browser. The first version was launched as part of the Microsoft Plus! add-on pack for Windows 95. A major strategic shift occurred with Internet Explorer 3, released in 1996, which introduced support for Cascading Style Sheets and ActiveX controls, directly challenging Netscape Navigator. Its deep integration into Windows 98 sparked significant legal and competitive controversy. Subsequent versions, developed alongside new Windows XP and Windows Vista releases, added features like the XMLHttpRequest object, which later enabled AJAX web applications. The final standalone version, Internet Explorer 11, was released with Windows 8.1.

Features

Over its versions, it introduced several influential technologies and standards. Early versions pioneered the integration of Internet Mail and News and Windows Address Book. Internet Explorer 4 introduced the Trident layout engine and Dynamic HTML, enabling richer web interactions. It was also a primary vehicle for Microsoft Java Virtual Machine and ActiveX technologies, though these later faced security and compatibility issues. Later iterations added tabbed browsing, Accelerators, and WebSlice support. Its developer tools, initially released as the Internet Explorer Developer Toolbar, evolved into a robust suite for debugging HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Market share and adoption

Its market share grew explosively following its bundling with Windows 95 OSR 1, leading to the decline of Netscape Navigator. By 2002, it reached a peak global usage share of over 95%, effectively winning the First Browser War. This dominance began to erode in the late 2000s with the rise of competitors like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari. The launch of Windows 10 in 2015, which featured Microsoft Edge as the default browser, accelerated its decline. By the time of its retirement, its global share had fallen to a low single-digit percentage, primarily maintained in certain enterprise environments due to legacy ActiveX dependencies.

Security and criticism

It was frequently criticized for security vulnerabilities, being a common target for malware, spyware, and computer virus exploits like the Code Red worm. Its deep integration with Windows XP was particularly problematic, leading to the Trustworthy Computing memo by Bill Gates. The browser's support for ActiveX controls was a persistent attack vector. It consistently scored poorly in independent security tests compared to Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. These issues, along with its slow compliance with emerging World Wide Web Consortium standards, led many developers and organizations to deem it a legacy compatibility burden rather than a modern platform.

Legacy and end of support

Microsoft announced the end of life for most versions in 2015, redirecting development to Microsoft Edge. The Internet Explorer 11 desktop application was officially retired on June 15, 2022, for certain versions of Windows 10. A legacy "IE mode" remains integrated into Microsoft Edge to support older enterprise websites and applications reliant on ActiveX or the Trident engine. Its historical impact is immense, having shaped early web standards, catalyzed the United States v. Microsoft Corp. lawsuit, and defined the web experience for a generation of users during the dot-com boom. Its decline marked the end of an era in browser monoculture and the rise of a more competitive, standards-driven web.

Category:Web browsers Category:Microsoft software Category:Discontinued software