Firefox: 20 years of fighting for a free internet and market share. The successes and failures of the browser

How it all started

To counter Microsoft's monopoly, Netscape in 1998 decided to open the source code of its browser and launched the Mozilla project. This name came from the merger of the words Mosaic (in honor of the Mosaic browser, which was the predecessor of Netscape) and Godzilla, symbolizing the fight against competitors. In the first year, the community actively joined the work: developers from all over the world created new features, improved existing capabilities, participated in the management and planning of the project.

Initially, the Mozilla project developed within Netscape. Its goal was to create a new browser, the Mozilla Application Suite. This was a whole set of applications, including a browser, mail client, HTML editor, and other tools. Later, the Mozilla team decided not to make a "combine", but to create a new lightweight browser, which we now know as Firefox.

The name did not appear immediately either. So, in 2002, work began on the Phoenix browser, then Firebird, and only then Firefox. The name Phoenix had to be changed due to a conflict with another trademark, and Firebird caused dissatisfaction among the developers of the database of the same name. As a result, they settled on the name Firefox, which became a symbol of the Mozilla team's desire to create a free, secure, and user-oriented browser.

Well, in 2004, the first release was introduced, quickly attracting attention and, most importantly, gaining users thanks to its revolutionary features at the time — tabs and support for extensions. Here are the main features of the browser that distinguished it from competitors at that time:

• Tabbed Browsing. Unlike Internet Explorer, which opened each site in a new window, Firefox introduced tabs, allowing users to manage multiple web pages in one window. The tabbed interface was also used in the Opera browser at that time, but Firefox made tabs more intuitive.

• Extensions. Firefox offered a flexible add-on system, allowing users to install new features and customize the browser to their needs.

• Pop-up Blocking. At the time of Firefox's release, this feature was in demand, as many sites were abusing pop-up ads. Firefox allowed users to block them, making surfing more comfortable.

• Support for CSS and web standards. From the very beginning, Firefox aimed to support modern web standards, allowing users to see sites as developers intended. This set it apart from browsers that did not always display pages correctly.

• Security. Firefox offered a higher level of security compared to Internet Explorer, where vulnerabilities were a common problem. Developers implemented features to protect against phishing and prevent data leaks, which strengthened user trust.

Success of Firefox and Market Share

Since its release, Firefox has grown in popularity, gaining market share by providing users with unique features that were not available in other browsers. In 2010, Firefox's market share reached 30% — this was the peak of its popularity.

The main success of Firefox is due to its innovative approach to the interface, embedded in the very concept of the browser. The ability to work with tabs and a rich base of extensions and add-ons turned out to be the right and timely decisions. They made the browser an indispensable tool for a large number of users, especially those who worked on the Internet or spent a lot of time online. Mozilla also focused on code openness, so the community could actively participate in improving the browser.

Firefox offered a high level of security, remaining true to the principle of open code and betting on privacy. This made it popular among users concerned about protecting their data.

Problems and Failures

Despite a successful start and outstanding growth, after a few years, Firefox faced a problem called "competitors." First of all, it was Google Chrome: introduced in 2008, it attracted users' attention with its fast performance, rational resource consumption, and smooth interface. But Firefox "became heavier": performance issues began, as its architecture did not allow easy adaptation to the constantly changing user requirements. Redesigning the browser was not easy.

The transition of Firefox to the new Quantum engine in 2017 was a step aimed at solving these problems, but it happened later than it should have. During this time, Firefox lost a significant number of users dissatisfied with the slow browser.

Moreover, Mozilla made a number of strategic mistakes, such as working on side projects (e.g., Firefox OS). They diverted resources and time from the development of the main product.

Amid changing user preferences and the growing influence of mobile devices, Mozilla failed to regain its former popularity, and Firefox's share continued to decline. The decline began, which could not be stopped.

Current Situation and Future Plans

As of October 2024, the share of the Firefox browser in the global market has decreased to 2.24%, which is 30 times less than Chrome's figures. Unfortunately, Firefox is no longer a competitor to Google's browser. And no one is a competitor, except perhaps Safari with its 21%.

But 2% is 2%, and Mozilla does not give up. The company continues to work on improving Firefox, paying special attention to privacy and data protection. In recent years, it has introduced features such as Enhanced Tracking Protection to block trackers, Firefox Monitor to notify about data breaches, and Total Cookie Protection to limit cross-site tracking.

The new CEO Laura Chambers aims to increase Firefox's market share. For this, innovations such as AI assistant integration, support for vertical tabs, and improved privacy modes are planned. The changes are aimed at making Firefox more competitive against powerful players like Chrome and Safari and attracting new users.

By the way, I still use this browser, it is my main one. Therefore, I have every right to congratulate Firefox on its 20th anniversary! Share your experience with it — maybe you also prefer it?