Mozilla also integrated the HTML5 video WebM standard into the browser, allowing playback of WebM videos. Firefox 5 has significantly improved the speed of web-related tasks, such as loading pages with combo boxes or MathML. Firefox 5 is the first release in Mozilla's new rapid release plan, matching Google Chrome's rapid release schedule and rapid version number increments.
Firefox 5 through 9įirefox 5 was released on June 21, 2011, three months after the major release of Firefox 4. This accelerated release cycle was met with criticism by users, as it often broke add-on compatibility, as well as those who believe Firefox was simply trying to increase its version number to compare with other browsers such as Google Chrome. The stated aim of this faster-paced process is to get new features to users faster. Gecko version numbering is the same as the Firefox build version number, starting with 5.0 on Firefox 5. "Release" is the current official version of Firefox. The "Beta" channel provides improved stability over the "Nightly" builds and is the first development milestone that has the "Firefox" logo. The "Beta" channel is up to six weeks behind the "Aurora" build, for up to about twelve weeks compared to the most recent "Nightly" build. As of version 35, the "Aurora" channel has been renamed to the "Developer Edition" channel. The "Aurora" build is up to six weeks behind "Nightly" and offers functionality that has undergone basic testing. The most recent available build is called "Nightly Builds" and offers the latest, untested features and updates. In April 2011, the development process was split into several "channels", each working on a build in a different stage of development. With the release of each newer version the tool has run more and more smoothly, allowing it to compete head to head with its main competitors.Įach newer version of Firefox has definitely presented important changes and improved its service, allowing it to no longer be seen as a simple alternative to Internet Explorer and Google Chrome and to become the main choice for millions of users around the world.Main article: Firefox early version history Rapid releases
The speed with which websites are loaded, and resource use, have also seen improvements, therefore avoiding the excessive use of memory found on previous versions.
Performance and stability have, once again, been improved with better JavaScript and rendering engines, increased HTML5 compatibility, independent processing for the browser’s add-ons, and much more. Its latest releases have centered on improving technical aspects, as its appearance continues being pretty much the same as that of previous versions. Among its main features are the option of being able to browse several websites at the same time thanks to its tab system, all while supporting most existing web standards as well as offering a personalized experience thanks to its extensions, add-ons, and themes that have been created by the community and which allow you to expand its functions.
Mozilla continues working on more improvements for its star product: the free and open source browser, Firefox.