Expert: Lorry - 10/15/2009

Question
Is there any difference between browsing and downloading? my service provider says i've got 1GB free downloading and unlimited browsing. what does it mean?

Answer
Hi Rohit,

When you browse using Internet Explorer or any other browser, that is exactly what you are doing. You are just going from one web site to another trying to find the information you are looking for.

From Webopedia.com:

Browse means:

(1) In database systems, browse means to view data. Many database systems support a special browse mode , in which you can flip through fields and records quickly. Usually, you cannot modify data while you are in browse mode.

(2) In object-oriented programming languages, browse means to examine data structures.

(3) To view formatted documents
. For example, you look at Web pages with a Web browser. Browse is often used to mean the same as surf.  

When you download something, it is usually a program, for example a free program that needs to be downloaded and installed.

Again from Webopedia. com:

Download means:

To copy data (usually an entire file) from a main source to a peripheral device. The term is often used to describe the process of copying a file from an online service or bulletin board service  (BBS) to one's own computer. Downloading can also refer to copying a file from a network file server to a computer on the network.

In addition, the term is used to describe the process of loading a font into a laser printer. The font is first copied from a disk to the printer's local memory. A font that has been downloaded like this is called a soft font to distinguish it from the hard fonts that are permanently in the printer's memory.

The opposite of download is upload, which means to copy a file from your own computer to another computer.

Hope this helps!
Lorry