Evergreen Browser

Many have asked, "What is an evergreen browser, and what makes it special." No person
would want to lag behind when it comes to updating their applications. Being able to use
the latest version of your web browser brings more satisfaction and enables you to perform
your tasks faster and more efficiently. As we shall see in this article, evergreen browsers
strive to get the newest features to users once they are released from the manufacturer's
website.

What is An Evergreen Browser?

An Evergreen browser is one that automatically updates itself in the background. Such
browsers will always be up to date if you are connected to a stable internet connection. The
browsers detect new updates once released on the browser's manufacturer's website. The
code required to add new features and fix bugs is downloaded and installed automatically.
Before the invention of evergreen browsers, you had to manually download and install the
update from the manufacturer's website. You had to use a CD or floppy disk before that.
Thanks to evergreen browsers, you don't have to install updates to your browser application
manually. Examples of evergreen browsers include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and
Microsoft Edge.

When Exactly Does An Evergreen Browser Get Updated?

Upon relaunching the browser or restarting the device, the updates are installed, and the
latest version of the browser is made available for use. Sometimes, the browser may
update in the background and prompt the user for a restart to finish updating the
application. Google Chrome and Firefox have different update specifications.
For the Google Chrome browser, updates are made in the background when it is closed.
Users may not even notice that their browser has been updated as the process is automatic
and silent. If an update is due for download and installation, Chrome will use small colored
notifications (green, orange, and red) to prompt the user to make the necessary updates.
Firefox updates automatically by default, just like Google Chrome. However, if you installed
Firefox through the Microsoft store, you will have to get the updates from there. If your
Firefox is from Mozilla, you can navigate to the menu button at the right side of the toolbar
and click Help. Select About Firefox.
On the new window that opens, Firefox will check for updates automatically and download
them if they are available. Once the download is complete, click Restart to update Firefox to
apply the updates.
What Web Browsers Are Evergreen?
The most popular browsers are almost all evergreen. This applies to Mozilla Firefox,
Microsoft Edge, and Google Chrome. Apple Safari is the only popular browser that is not
evergreen. While it automatically downloads updates, it awkwardly requires users to
access the system-wide update section of the macOS operating system to download and
install them.
The Google Chrome evergreen browser is the most popular browser used by many.
Microsoft edge evergreen web browser has also gained much popularity due to its
lightweight and fastness compared to Google Chrome. The evergreen web browser Chrome
webstore has all the latest apps and extensions that one might need from Google Chrome.
Some of the most popular evergreen browsers include:
1. Chrome
2. Chromium
3. Mozilla Firefox
4. Microsoft Edge
5. Opera
6. Brave
7. Vivaldi

Can An Evergreen Browser Get Out Of Date?

By default, evergreen browsers will always be up-to-date when opened. However, some
may have missed updates due to not restarting the computer, not restarting the browser,
not having administrator rights, or having an old computer or operating system.
Manufacturers stop supporting old versions as soon as new versions are rolled out.
Although browser developers can send updates directly to users, occasionally, a third party
intervenes and manages the flow of updates. This applies if you use Linux and have
downloaded your browser from the distribution's software repository or work in a setting
where the network administrator decides when updates are deployed.
Installing these updates may need administrator privileges. Even if you can download the
updates, you cannot apply them unless you are the computer's administrator, which not
everyone is. This means that your evergreen browser will be out of date till the computer
administrator follows the procedures required by the network administrator to allow the
installation of the updates.
The main reason users of evergreen browsers lag in the case of updates is due to
unsupported platforms. Users of Macs typically experience this issue, while Windows and
Linux users can also be at risk of not receiving browser updates if their operating systems
are not up-to-date.

Can Evergreen Browsers Be A Problem For IT Administrators?

Evergreen browsers can be a problem for IT administrators sometimes. Corporate IT
organizations may want to suspend browser updates for various reasons, including the
requirement to test authorized changes before applying them to hundreds or maybe
thousands of PCs or a problem that prevents internal programs from running.
Other users may stop automatically updating their browsers on the incorrect assumption
that they would be allowed to use Adobe Flash (and many other period-limited apps) after it
has exhausted its usage period. This means those with old versions may continue using
outdated browsers until they manually upgrade to the latest versions.

Some IT administrators who are used to older versions may find the new features
overwhelming and decide to stay in outdated browsers. Therefore, even for a short period
of time, some users might not be able to use apps with the newest features, making them
stop auto-updating to the latest versions of a given evergreen browser.

Evergreen Browsers In A Nutshell

The concept of evergreen browsers is one that developers have enjoyed. On the other hand,
users don't need to worry about their evergreen browsers not being up to date, as the
process of downloading and installing updates occurs in the background when the browser
is closed.
Once you relaunch your browser, the updates are installed, and you won't even notice
unless the update is enormous with significant changes. The only downside of evergreen
browsers is that some of the latest features may not be compatible with the working
environment of some IT administrators. They will forego the automatic updates and stay on
the older versions, which are compatible with their other internal applications.
Nonetheless, evergreen browsers are the way to go, as manufacturers constantly provide
bug fixes and features that make your browsing experience worthwhile and enjoyable.
Users must occasionally restart their browser or device to complete the updates and enjoy
the latest versions of evergreen browsers.