EdgeHTML

EdgeHTML was the proprietary web browser engine developed by Microsoft for use in its Edge web browser. It was a fork of the Trident engine, redesigned with an emphasis on web standards compliance, interoperability, and performance.

EdgeHTML was introduced with the initial release of the Edge browser in Windows 10, replacing Trident as the default engine. Key goals included increased speed, reduced memory usage, and improved security. It also aimed to modernize the codebase and remove legacy code that was present in Trident, contributing to better support for modern web technologies.

Significant features of EdgeHTML included support for advanced HTML5, CSS3, and ECMAScript 6 (JavaScript) features. Microsoft actively contributed to the standardization of these technologies through participation in W3C working groups. The engine also incorporated experimental features and APIs, often behind flags, allowing developers to preview and test upcoming web platform capabilities.

However, in December 2018, Microsoft announced that Edge would be rebuilt using Chromium as its base, effectively discontinuing further development of EdgeHTML. The Chromium-based Edge browser was released in January 2020, marking the end of EdgeHTML's lifecycle. The original Edge browser and EdgeHTML were eventually replaced through Windows Update.