Google Chrome Celebrates 15 Years of Browsing Innovation

Introduction 🚀

Fifteen years ago, on September 2, 2008, Google introduced the world to a new web browser that would change the way we explore the internet. This year, we celebrate the 15th birthday of Google Chrome, a browser that has become an integral part of our online lives.

History

Google CEO Eric Schmidt opposed the development of an independent web browser for six years. He stated that "at the time, Google was a small company", and he did not want to go through "bruising browser wars".

In September 2004, rumors of Google building a web browser first appeared and hiring former Microsoft web developers. It also came shortly after the release of Mozilla Firefox 1.0, which was surging in popularity and taking market share from Internet Explorer, which had noted security problems.

Development of the browser Chrome began in 2006, spearheaded by Sundar Pichai.

Usage & market share

Chrome overtook Firefox in November 2011, in worldwide usage. As of September 2022, according to StatCounter, Google Chrome had 67% worldwide desktop usage share, making it the most widely used web browser.

It was reported by StatCounter, a web analytics company, that for the single day of Sunday, March 18, 2012, Chrome was the most used web browser in the world for the first time. Chrome secured 32.7% of the global web browsing on that day, while Internet Explorer followed closely behind with 32.5%.

From May 14–21, 2012, Google Chrome was for the first time responsible for more Internet traffic than Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which long had held its spot as the most used web browser in the world.