Internet Explorer vs Microsoft Edge: What are the differences?

Key Differences between Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge

Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge are both web browsers developed by Microsoft, but they have several key differences that set them apart.

1. Rendering Engine: Internet Explorer uses the Trident rendering engine, while Microsoft Edge utilizes the EdgeHTML rendering engine. This means that the two browsers handle web page rendering differently, resulting in varying levels of speed, compatibility, and performance.

2. Legacy Support: Internet Explorer has extended support for older web technologies and features in order to ensure compatibility with legacy websites and applications. On the other hand, Microsoft Edge focuses on modern web standards and does not include support for many older technologies. This can sometimes lead to compatibility issues when accessing older websites or using older web applications on Microsoft Edge.

3. User Interface: The user interface (UI) of Microsoft Edge is different from that of Internet Explorer. Microsoft Edge has a cleaner and more minimalistic design, with a simplified menu and toolbar layout, making it easier for users to navigate and focus on the content. Internet Explorer, on the other hand, has a more traditional and cluttered UI with a variety of menus and toolbars.

4. Extensions: Microsoft Edge supports browser extensions from the Microsoft Store, similar to other modern web browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. However, Internet Explorer does not natively support browser extensions. This means that users of Microsoft Edge have access to a wider range of add-ons and extensions that can enhance their browsing experience compared to Internet Explorer users.

5. Performance: Microsoft Edge is generally regarded as being faster and more efficient than Internet Explorer. It has been optimized for modern hardware and utilizes fewer system resources, resulting in faster page load times and improved overall performance. Internet Explorer, meanwhile, has been known to be slower and more resource-intensive, particularly when it comes to rendering complex web pages or running JavaScript-intensive applications.

6. End of Support: As of May 2021, Internet Explorer has reached its end of support, meaning that it will no longer receive security updates or technical support from Microsoft. On the other hand, Microsoft Edge is actively maintained and regularly updated with new features and security patches, making it a more secure and reliable choice for web browsing.

In summary, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge differ in terms of their rendering engines, legacy support, user interface, extension support, performance, and availability of support and updates. Microsoft Edge is a more modern and feature-rich browser that offers better performance and security compared to Internet Explorer, which is no longer supported by Microsoft.