

An extension is a small software module you can choose to install to customize your browser’s appearance or function. Even visiting a simple web page requires an exchange of information.īrowser extensions modify this basic flow of information in some way. Uploads from your computer, downloads from the Web, cookies…all this happens in your browser. The basics: what is a browser extension?Īt essence, Web browsers process information. We’ll also discuss a safer alternative to extensions. What they do, how they work, how to add / remove them, and some considerations when installing. In this short article: an intro to browser extensions.

But extensions can also open you to more security risks. Think here of things like dark-mode, spell-checkers, ad-blockers, and more. In these cases, a browser extension can help you customize your browsing experience.īasically, an extension (also known as a plug-in or add-on) is a tiny piece of software that adds some custom function to your core browser. But sometimes the browser may not have exactly what you want out-of-the-box. Modern browsers like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge make it easy to access Websites, search the Web, even use other Web apps.
