A web browser and a search engine work together, but they're not the same thing. Chrome vs Google, what's the difference?
What is a web browser? A web browser is the app you use to open and view websites. Examples: Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox.
What is a search engine? A search engine is a website or tool that helps you find things on the internet. Examples: Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo.
Think of it like this. The browser is like the car or bus that takes you around the web. The search engine is like the helper or map that tells you where to go.
How they work together. You open Chrome (the browser), type google.com or a question, Google helps find results, and you click a website to learn more.
Chrome vs Google. Chrome is a browser app, it opens websites. Google is a company and also the name of a search engine, it helps you find information. Chrome is not the same thing as Google! They're different, even though we often use them together.
An example. "I want to learn about sharks!" You open Chrome, go to Google, search "sharks," and click a website (or video) to learn more.
Remember: a browser opens websites, and a search engine helps you find websites. Chrome and Google often work together, but they are not the same thing. You got this!
What to remember
- A web browser opens and shows websites.
- A search engine helps you find websites.
- Chrome and Google work together but aren't the same thing.
- You use the browser to reach the search engine.
Words to know
- Web browser
- The app you use to open and view websites.
- Search engine
- A tool that helps you find things online.
- Chrome
- An example of a web browser.
- An example of a search engine.
For grown-ups
A frequently muddled pair. A web browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox) is the application that loads and displays web pages. A search engine (Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo) is a service you visit — usually through a browser — that indexes the web and returns results. People conflate 'Chrome' and 'Google' because Chrome often defaults to Google search, but they're different things made by the same company in that case. Browser = the car; search engine = the map.
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