Communication between the web server and the browser uses primarily the HTTP protocol. Most browsers also support other protocols, such as FTP, Gopher, and HTTPS, a [secure sockets layer]? encrypted version of HTTP.
Some of the more popular browsers include additional components to support Usenet news and e-mail via the NNTP, IMAP and POP protocols.
Examples of web browsers:
Text-based web browsers:
Early browsers which are no longer developed:
See also History of the Internet.