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What Is Microsoft Edge: All You Need to Know

Learn what is Microsoft Edge, explore its features and see why this modern browser is built for speed, security, and productivity.

Published on: June 18 2025

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Microsoft Edge is a fast, secure web browser developed by Microsoft and was launched in 2015 to replace Internet Explorer. At first, it used its own engine (EdgeHTML), but in 2020, it switched to the same engine that powers Google Chrome (Chromium). This change made it easier to support modern websites and use Chrome extensions.

Overview

Microsoft Edge is a web browser developed by Microsoft for browsing the Internet. It is fast, secure, and works with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and other Microsoft services.

Features of Microsoft Edge

Some of the popular features provided by Microsoft Edge include:

  • Collections: Organize web content for shopping, travel, or research.
  • Sidebar: Access tools and apps without leaving the current tab.
  • Vertical Tabs: Manage tabs vertically for better organization.
  • Copilot: An AI assistant for search, image creation, and productivity.
  • Coupons: Automatically finds deals while shopping online.

Working of Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge uses a multi-process architecture where the browser handles tabs, renderers manage web content, and the GPU takes care of visuals. Utility processes run media and network tasks, while crash handlers ensure stability.

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What Is Microsoft Edge?

Microsoft Edge is a web browser built on the Chromium engine and works on platforms such as Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. It is tightly coupled with Microsoft services and works with tools like Microsoft 365 and Office apps.

It puts a strong focus on security and privacy by offering features like Tracking Prevention and Microsoft Defender SmartScreen. Microsoft Edge also lets you sync your browsing data like passwords, favorites, and settings across all your devices.

For optimal security and to leverage the latest features, it is recommended to get Edge updates as well.

Features of Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge offers a smooth and efficient browsing experience by offering features like built-in multitasking tools, privacy protections, and more.

Key Features:

  • Collections: This browser allows you to organize web-related activities, whether you're shopping, planning a trip, or collecting notes for research.
  • Sidebar: This can help to multitask on the web easily with access to tools, apps, and more within the same tab without breaking your flow.
  • Vertical Tabs: This helps to stay organized by moving browser tabs from the top to the side of the screen.
  • Copilot: Copilot is an AI assistant in Edge that helps with tasks like searching for information, creating images, and boosting productivity.
  • Coupons: This helps you save costs by automatically finding deals and discounts while you shop online.
  • Read Aloud: This lets you listen to web pages in your preferred language, making it easier to multitask, learn, or improve reading comprehension.
  • Image Creator: This makes Edge the first and only browser with an integrated AI image generator powered by DALL-E models from OpenAI.
  • Sleeping Tabs: When a tab is not in use, this feature helps put it to sleep. Not only does this save resources, but it also improves the performance of the browser.
  • Immersive Reader: This hands the users the flexibility to focus on the content by simplifying the visual interface and offering functionalities such as text-to-speech, text-line spacing, and grammatical features.
Note

Note: Test your websites on the latest Edge browsers online. Try LambdaTest Now!

How Does Microsoft Edge Work?

Microsoft Edge has a multi-process architecture, which means various activities are executed in a separate process to enhance speed, security, and stability.

how-does-microsoft-edge-work

Here's how this architecture works:

  • Browser Process: This is the main process that manages lists of windows and tabs, in addition to controlling the browser frame with the address bar and the back and forward buttons. It also directs privileged access to relevant utility processes like network and file system access.
  • Renderer Processes: These processes handle and execute code submitted by the websites. They manage all the components that make up a website, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and images, among others. Each renderer process is isolated for security purposes so that malicious code in one tab does not affect other tabs.
  • GPU Process: This process manages all forms of communication with the GPU, handling all the work assigned to it. The GPU does the heavy lifting of calculating image-related tasks and displays the image on the monitor.
  • Utility Processes: These processes control audio playback, network service, video capture, data decoding, and the collections manager. By separating these processes, Edge has control of these resources and can audit the access being granted.
  • Plug-In Processes and Extension Processes: A plug-in process has active plug-ins, for example, Adobe Flash, while an extension process has active extensions. Each process executes code from “plug-in” or “extension” processes and operates with the rest of the browser, including the renderer processes.
  • Crashpad Handler Process: This process monitors the health of different processes within Microsoft Edge. When Edge crashes, this process captures and sends crash reports to Google’s servers, thereby allowing their development team to troubleshoot and resolve pertinent issues.

How to Test on Microsoft Edge?

Now you know what is Microsoft Edge and how it works. According to StatCounter, Microsoft Edge holds a global browser market share of 5.21% in 2025, with a stronger desktop presence at 13.77%, making testing applications on Microsoft Edge crucial to ensure compatibility and performance for its growing user base.

Testing on Microsoft Edge ensures your website works as intended for users who use this browser. It helps catch layout issues, bugs, or functionality issues specific to Edge.

Since there are umpteen browser versions of Edge, testing on each one won’t be feasible. However, you can try out AI-native cloud testing platforms like LambdaTest to test on Microsoft Edge online across various latest and legacy Edge versions.

To get started, refer to the documentation on real-time testing on desktop browsers.

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Browser Comparison: Edge vs Chrome vs Firefox vs Safari

Here is a comparison between Edge and how it is different from other browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari:


Parameter Edge Chrome Firefox Safari
Engine Chromium (Blink) Chromium (Blink) Gecko WebKit
Speed Fast, optimized for Windows Very fast, but heavy on resources Moderate speed, stable Fastest on Apple devices
Platform Support All major platforms All major platforms All major platforms Only on Apple devices
RAM Usage More efficient than Chrome High memory consumption Low to moderate Low (best on macOS/iOS)
Battery Life Efficient on Windows laptops Drains battery quickly Decent battery performance Best for Apple devices
Extensions Supports Chrome extensions Largest extension library Large library, privacy-focused Limited (App Store only)
Privacy Good (basic blocking) Weak (tracks user data) Strong (strict blocking) Good (Apple’s privacy protections)

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we delved into what is Microsoft Edge, exploring its features and how it works. What sets Microsoft Edge apart is its speed, coupled with impressive security features, and integration with AI further provides a fast and effective browsing experience.

Microsoft Edge is perfect for those looking for an all-in-one browser with exceptional privacy, top-of-the-line performance, and productive AI features.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Microsoft Edge used for?
Microsoft Edge is a web browser used for navigating the Internet, accessing online services, and interacting with websites and web applications.
What is Microsoft Edge WebView2?
Microsoft Edge WebView2 is a control that allows developers to embed web content (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) directly into their native applications. It uses the Microsoft Edge (Chromium) rendering engine to display this web content.
What is Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime?
The Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime is the underlying web platform that powers WebView2 applications. It provides the necessary components for native apps to display web content using the Chromium engine.
What is Microsoft Edge WebView?
Microsoft Edge WebView generally refers to the concept of embedding web content within native applications using the Microsoft Edge engine.
Is Microsoft Edge more secure than Internet Explorer?
Yes, Microsoft Edge provides more security than Internet Explorer. It uses advanced security mechanisms, sandboxing, and enhanced browsing protection, making it less vulnerable to attacks.
Can I use extensions on Microsoft Edge?
Microsoft Edge, like other popular browsers, provides a wide selection of extensions. You can browse and install extensions in the Microsoft Edge add-ons store.
How do I control cookies in Microsoft Edge?
To change how cookies are handled, go to Settings > Privacy, Search, and Services > Cookies and other site data. You will be able to either block or delete cookies in accordance with your choice.
Can I sign PDF documents using Microsoft Edge?
Yes, you can sign PDFs in Microsoft Edge directly. With your stylus or the mouse, you can electronically sign forms without installing additional software. It makes it easy to quickly fill and submit documents.

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