Chromium (web browser)

Chromium is a free and open-source web browser project, serving as the basis for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and many other browsers. Its source code is largely written in C++ and is developed and maintained by the Chromium Project. The project's goals include providing a safer, faster, and more stable web experience for all users.

Unlike Google Chrome, Chromium is distributed under the BSD license, making it more permissible for modification and redistribution. While Chromium shares a significant portion of its codebase with Chrome, there are key differences. Chromium lacks some proprietary features and branding found in Chrome, such as Google's proprietary codecs, auto-update mechanisms, and the Google branding itself. Chromium typically uses the open-source Blink rendering engine.

Developers and enthusiasts often use Chromium for experimentation, building custom browsers, and contributing to the overall advancement of web technologies. Because it is open-source, the Chromium project benefits from contributions from a large and diverse community. Nightly builds of Chromium are available, offering users access to the latest features and bug fixes, albeit with potentially less stability than official releases of browsers based on Chromium.