Which browser do you use? This can be a curiously personal question, almost as if the browser we choose says something about our personality. A quick Google search for ‘what your browser says about you’ reveals opinionated blog posts going back to 2014 and before. Apparently, as a Google Chrome user in my personal life, I’m a great pick for a customer service job.
About a year ago, I switched from using Chrome to Microsoft Edge at work. I initially decided to give it a try because of its excellent ability to paste links as descriptive text. Pasting a link as a hyperlinked title rather than a long URL chain of letters and numbers is more searchable, visually easier to process and more text-to-speech friendly.
I have kept using Edge and found more reasons to stick with it over time. Edge doesn’t have that ugly, blocky user interface that its old predecessor, Internet Explorer, had. The Microsoft 365 app integration is very convenient for work, and the built-in quick-access Copilot sidebar has allowed me to familiarise myself with using generative AI. And in Edge, as in all popular browsers, you can change the default search engine to one you prefer. Sorry Bing search – I have never loved you.
Browser tools for diverse working styles
Microsoft are now promoting Edge’s ADHD-friendly features. I am wary of corporate brands like Microsoft using neurodiversity as a marketing tactic. However, it is beneficial for workers and workplaces when employers recognise and provide practical support for neurodivergence. The highlighted features include:
- A split-screen function to open two tabs side-by-side in one window
- Read aloud to turn text into speech
- AI-powered tab grouping to organise tabs by topic
I’ve experimented with a few of the features. For me, the side-by-side function works well on a larger screen but feels almost the same as arranging separate browser windows. I find the colourful labels of tab grouping aesthetically pleasing, but the feature encourages me to collect open tabs. As someone with the lamentable habit of saving to desktop, I do not need more clutter! Exploring the tab configuration did, however, lead me to the happy discovery that you can move horizontal tabs to a vertical sidebar.
Adjusting your browser to your preferences
All popular browsers have a range of features that allow you to adjust aspects of appearance and navigation and make your web experience more user-friendly. In addition to those I mention above, other common browser features might include:
- Toolbar customisation
- Choice of themes or colours, including dark mode
- The ability to save and pin tabs
You can find these features in your browser settings. For relevant support pages, type your browser name and ‘customisation’ or ‘accessibility settings’ into a search engine. Keep in mind that there will always be differences in individual browser behaviours that might make one browser more suitable for certain websites or functionalities.
Which browser do you use and why? And do you know of any inclusive and accessible browser features you can recommend?