Editing Firefox (section)

== History ==
{{See also|Firefox early version history|Firefox version history}}
The project began as an experimental branch of the [[Mozilla Application Suite|Mozilla project]] by [[Dave Hyatt]], [[Joe Hewitt (programmer)|Joe Hewitt]], and [[Blake Ross]]. They believed the commercial requirements of [[Netscape]]'s sponsorship and developer-driven [[feature creep]] compromised the utility of the Mozilla browser.<ref>{{cite web |last=Goodger |first=Ben |author-link=Ben Goodger |title=Where Did Firefox Come From? |work=Inside Firefox |publisher=MozillaZine Weblogs |date=February 6, 2006 |url=http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/ben/archives/009698.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623034401/http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/ben/archives/009698.html |archive-date=June 23, 2011 |access-date=January 7, 2012}}</ref> To combat what they saw as the [[Mozilla Suite]]'s [[software bloat]], they created a standalone browser, with which they intended to replace the Mozilla Suite.<ref name=secrets>{{cite book |last=Yeow |first=Cheah Chu |year=2005 |title=Firefox Secrets |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfciobmzOOcC |publisher=SitePoint Pty Ltd |isbn=978-0-9752402-4-3 |access-date=December 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323104230/https://books.google.com/books?id=sfciobmzOOcC |archive-date=March 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Version 0.1 was released on September 23, 2002.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2012/09/happy-birthday-firefox-the-little-web-browser-that-could-turns-10/ |title=Happy Birthday, Firefox: The Little Web Browser That Could Turns 10 |last=Gilbertson |first=Scott |date=September 24, 2012 |magazine=Wired |access-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805143306/https://www.wired.com/2012/09/happy-birthday-firefox-the-little-web-browser-that-could-turns-10/ |archive-date=August 5, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> On April 3, 2003, the [[Mozilla Foundation|Mozilla Organization]] announced that it planned to change its focus from the Mozilla Suite to Firefox and [[Mozilla Thunderbird|Thunderbird]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www-archive.mozilla.org/roadmap/roadmap-02-Apr-2003.html |title=mozilla development roadmap |last1=Eich |first1=Brendan |author-link=Brendan Eich |last2=Hyatt |first2=David |author-link2=Dave Hyatt |date=April 2, 2003 |publisher=[[Mozilla]] |access-date=August 2, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410050040/http://www-archive.mozilla.org/roadmap/roadmap-02-Apr-2003.html |archive-date=April 10, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Phoenix 0.1.png|thumb|left|Screenshot of Phoenix 0.1 on [[Windows XP]] ]]
The Firefox project has undergone several name changes.<ref>See:
*{{cite web |url=https://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/0.1-release-notes.html |title=Phoenix 0.1 (Pescadero) release Notes and FAQ |date=May 28, 2003 |website=mozilla.org |access-date=February 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030528145420/http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/0.1-release-notes.html |archive-date=May 28, 2003}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/0.2-release-notes.html |title=Phoenix 0.2 (Santa Cruz) release Notes and FAQ |date=December 3, 2003 |website=mozilla.org |access-date=February 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031203013057/http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/0.2-release-notes.html |archive-date=December 3, 2003}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/0.3-release-notes.html |title=Phoenix 0.3 (Lucia) release Notes and FAQ |date=December 3, 2003 |website=mozilla.org |access-date=February 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031203013057/http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/0.3-release-notes.html |archive-date=December 3, 2003}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/0.4-release-notes.html |title=Phoenix 0.4 (Oceano) Release Notes and FAQ |date=December 3, 2003 |website=mozilla.org |access-date=February 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031203013057/http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/0.4-release-notes.html |archive-date=December 3, 2003}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/0.5-release-notes.html |title=Phoenix 0.5 (Naples) Release Notes and FAQ |date=December 3, 2003 |website=mozilla.org |access-date=February 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031203013057/http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/0.5-release-notes.html |archive-date=December 3, 2003}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/0.6-release-notes.html |title=Mozilla Firebird 0.6 Release Notes and FAQ |date=December 3, 2003 |website=mozilla.org |access-date=February 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031203013057/http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/0.6-release-notes.html |archive-date=December 3, 2003}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/0.6.1-release-notes.html |title=Mozilla Firebird 0.6.1 Release Notes and FAQ |date=December 3, 2003 |website=mozilla.org |access-date=February 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031203013057/http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/0.6.1-release-notes.html |archive-date=December 3, 2003}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/0.7-release-notes.html |title=Mozilla Firebird 0.7 Release Notes |date=October 28, 2003 |website=mozilla.org |access-date=February 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031028041058/http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/0.7-release-notes.html |archive-date=October 28, 2003}}</ref> The nascent browser was originally named Phoenix, after the [[phoenix (mythology)|mythical bird]] that rose triumphantly from the ashes of its dead predecessor (in this case, from the "ashes" of [[Netscape Navigator]], after it was sidelined by Microsoft Internet Explorer in the "[[First Browser War]]"). Phoenix was renamed in 2003 due to a trademark claim from [[Phoenix Technologies]]. The replacement name, Firebird, provoked an intense response from the [[Firebird (database server)|Firebird]] database software project.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mozilla browser becomes Firebird |publisher=IBPhoenix |url=http://www.ibphoenix.com/main.nfs?a=ibphoenix&page=ibp_Mozilla0 |access-date=January 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070914035447/http://www.ibphoenix.com/main.nfs?a=ibphoenix&page=ibp_Mozilla0 |archive-date=September 14, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/mozillas-firebird-gets-wings-clipped/ |title=Mozilla's Firebird gets wings clipped |last=Festa |first=Paul |date=May 7, 2003 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629063203/https://www.cnet.com/news/mozillas-firebird-gets-wings-clipped/ |archive-date=June 29, 2018 |publisher=[[CNET]] |access-date=January 30, 2007}}</ref> The Mozilla Foundation reassured them that the browser would always bear the name Mozilla Firebird to avoid confusion. After further pressure, Mozilla Firebird became Mozilla Firefox on February 9, 2004.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/mozilla-holds-fire-in-naming-fight/ |title=Mozilla holds 'fire' in naming fight |last=Festa |first=Paul |date=February 9, 2004 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629063422/https://www.cnet.com/news/mozilla-holds-fire-in-naming-fight/ |archive-date=June 29, 2018 |publisher=[[CNET]] |access-date=January 24, 2007}}</ref> The name Firefox was said to be derived from a nickname of the [[red panda]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Red panda |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Red_Panda |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111062619/http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Red_Panda |archive-date=January 11, 2014 |work=BBC Nature |access-date=August 20, 2014}}</ref> which became the mascot for the newly named project.<ref name="Firefox name FAQ">{{cite web |title=Firefox name FAQ |last1=Garrity |first1=Steven |last2=Markham |first2=Gervase |last3=Goodger |first3=Ben |last4=Decrem |first4=Bart |display-authors=etal |website=mozilla.org |url=https://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/firefox-name-faq.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228204829/http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/firefox-name-faq.html |archive-date=February 28, 2012 |access-date=March 13, 2012}}</ref> For the abbreviation of Firefox, Mozilla prefers ''Fx'' or ''fx,'' although it is often abbreviated as ''FF''<ref>{{cite web |title=Firefox 1.5 Release Notes |url=https://website-archive.mozilla.org/www.mozilla.org/firefox_releasenotes/en-US/firefox/releases/1.5.html#FAQ |date=November 29, 2005 |website=mozilla.org archive |access-date=November 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141118131918/http://website-archive.mozilla.org/www.mozilla.org/firefox_releasenotes/en-US/firefox/releases/1.5.html#FAQ |archive-date=November 18, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> or Ff.

The Firefox project went through many versions before version 1.0 and had already gained a great deal of acclaim from numerous media outlets, such as ''[[Forbes]]''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/2004/09/29/cx_ah_0929tentech.html |date=September 29, 2004 |url-access=subscription |title=Better Browser Now the Best |website=[[Forbes]] |access-date=May 20, 2020 |archive-date=May 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503084908/https://www.forbes.com/2004/09/29/cx_ah_0929tentech.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/ptech-20040916.html |title=How to Protect Yourself From Vandals, Viruses If You Use Windows |first1=Walter S. |last1=Mossberg |website=Personal Technology from The Wall Street Journal |date=September 17, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040917095122/http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/ptech-20040916.html |archive-date=September 17, 2004}}</ref> Among Firefox's popular features were the integrated [[pop-up blocker]], [[tabbed browsing]], and an extension mechanism for adding functionality. Although these features have already been available for some time in other browsers such as the [[Mozilla Suite]] and [[Opera (web browser)|Opera]], Firefox was the first of these browsers to have achieved large-scale adoption so quickly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the Mozilla Project |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/history/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=Mozilla |language=en}}</ref> Firefox attracted attention as an alternative to [[Internet Explorer]], which had come under fire for its alleged poor program design and insecurity—detractors cite IE's lack of support for certain Web standards, use of the potentially dangerous [[ActiveX]] component, and vulnerability to spyware and malware installation.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}} Microsoft responded by releasing [[Windows XP]] Service Pack 2, which added several important security features to Internet Explorer 6.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lake |first=Matt |title=Microsoft Windows XP SP2 review: Microsoft Windows XP SP2 |date=August 11, 2004 |url=https://www.cnet.com/reviews/microsoft-windows-xp-home-edition-w-sp2-review/ |access-date=September 20, 2021 |publisher=CNET |language=en |archive-date=February 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211204829/https://www.cnet.com/reviews/microsoft-windows-xp-home-edition-w-sp2-review/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Version 1.0 of Firefox was released on November 9, 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://website-archive.mozilla.org/www.mozilla.org/firefox_releasenotes/en-US/firefox/releases/1.0.html |title=Firefox 1.0 Release Notes |date=November 9, 2004 |website=mozilla.org archive |access-date=June 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627005158/https://website-archive.mozilla.org/www.mozilla.org/firefox_releasenotes/en-US/firefox/releases/1.0.html |archive-date=June 27, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> This was followed by version 1.5 in November 2005, version 2.0 in October 2006, version 3.0 in June 2008, version 3.5 in June 2009, version 3.6 in January 2010, and version 4.0 in March 2011. From version 5 onwards, the development and release model changed into a "rapid" one; by the end of 2011 the stable release was version 9, and by the end of 2012 it reached version 17.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mozilla Firefox Release Notes |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/releases/ |access-date=September 20, 2021 |website=Mozilla |language=en |archive-date=September 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917224831/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/releases/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2016, Mozilla announced a project known as [[Quantum (Mozilla)|Quantum]], which sought to improve Firefox's Gecko engine and other components to improve the browser's performance, modernize its architecture, and transition the browser to a [[Process isolation|multi-process]] model. These improvements came in the wake of decreasing market share to [[Google Chrome]], as well as concerns that its performance was lapsing in comparison. Despite its improvements, these changes required existing [[Add-on (Mozilla)|add-ons]] for Firefox to be made incompatible with newer versions, in favor of a new [[Browser extension|extension]] system that is designed to be similar to Chrome and other recent browsers. Firefox 57, which was released in November 2017, was the first version to contain enhancements from Quantum, and has thus been named ''Firefox Quantum''. A Mozilla executive stated that Quantum was the "biggest update" to the browser since version 1.0.<ref name="cnet57">{{cite news |url=https://www.cnet.com/special-reports/mozilla-firefox-fights-back-against-google-chrome/ |title=Inside Mozilla: Firefox fights back |last=Shankland |first=Stephen |date=August 4, 2017 |publisher=[[CNET]] |access-date=October 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803165258/https://www.cnet.com/special-reports/mozilla-firefox-fights-back-against-google-chrome/ |archive-date=August 3, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-you-should-root-for-mozillas-firefox-57-in-the-browser-wars/ |title=Why you should root for Mozilla's Firefox 57 in the browser wars |last=Dignan |first=Larry |date=August 6, 2017 |publisher=[[ZDNet]] |access-date=October 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211021103/https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-you-should-root-for-mozillas-firefox-57-in-the-browser-wars/ |archive-date=December 11, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/3237054/internet/mozilla-seeks-return-to-glory-with-release-of-firefox-quantum.html |title=Mozilla seeks return to glory with release of Firefox Quantum |last=Keizer |first=Gregg |date=November 14, 2017 |work=[[Computerworld]] |access-date=December 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223114527/https://www.computerworld.com/article/3237054/internet/mozilla-seeks-return-to-glory-with-release-of-firefox-quantum.html |archive-date=December 23, 2017 |url-status=live |publisher=[[International Data Group]]}}</ref> Unresponsive and crashing pages only affect other pages loaded within the same process. While Chrome uses separate processes for each loaded tab, Firefox distributes tabs over four processes by default (since Quantum), in order to balance memory consumption and performance. The process count can be adjusted, where more processes increase performance at the cost of memory, therefore suitable for computers with larger RAM capacity.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hoffman |first1=Chris |title=What's New in Firefox Quantum, the Firefox You've Been Waiting For |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/332449/whats-new-in-firefox-quantum/ |website=How-To Geek |access-date=October 29, 2021 |language=en |date=November 14, 2017 |archive-date=October 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028154320/https://www.howtogeek.com/332449/whats-new-in-firefox-quantum/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Firefox's performance settings {{!}} Firefox Help |url=https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/performance-settings |website=support.mozilla.org |access-date=October 29, 2021 |archive-date=October 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029162332/https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/performance-settings |url-status=live}} (<code>about:config</code> property: <code>dom.ipc.processCount.web</code>)</ref>

On May 3, 2019, the expiry of an intermediate signing certificate on Mozilla servers caused Firefox to automatically disable and lock all browser extensions (add-ons).<ref name="FFAABlog">{{cite web |url=https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2019/05/04/update-regarding-add-ons-in-firefox/ |title=Update Regarding Add-ons in Firefox |publisher=Mozilla |date=May 4, 2019 |access-date=May 4, 2019 |author=Needham, Kev |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504142118/https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2019/05/04/update-regarding-add-ons-in-firefox/ |archive-date=May 4, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="addon_expiry_brouhaha">{{cite news |last=Brinkmann |first=Martin |title=Your Firefox extensions are all disabled? That's a bug! |publisher=GHacks |date=May 4, 2019 |url=https://www.ghacks.net/2019/05/04/your-firefox-extensions-are-all-disabled-thats-a-bug/ |access-date=May 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504065552/https://www.ghacks.net/2019/05/04/your-firefox-extensions-are-all-disabled-thats-a-bug/ |archive-date=May 4, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Mozilla began the roll-out of a fix shortly thereafter, using their Mozilla Studies component.<ref name="FFAABlog" /><ref name="addon_expiry_brouhaha" />

Support for [[Adobe Flash]] was dropped on January 6, 2021, with the release of Firefox 85.<ref>{{Cite web |title=End of support for Adobe Flash {{!}} Firefox Help |url=https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/end-support-adobe-flash |access-date=January 2, 2024 |website=support.mozilla.org |archive-date=February 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219064257/https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/end-support-adobe-flash |url-status=live }}</ref>

On June 1, 2021, Firefox's 'Proton' redesign was offered through its stable release channel<ref>{{Cite web |title=Firefox 89.0, See All New Features, Updates and Fixes |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/89.0/releasenotes/ |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=Mozilla |language=en |archive-date=June 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607050657/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/89.0/releasenotes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> after being made available in the beta builds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Firefox Beta 89.0beta, See All New Features, Updates and Fixes |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/89.0beta/releasenotes/ |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=Mozilla |language=en}}</ref> While users were initially allowed to revert to the old design through [[About URI scheme|about:config]], the corresponding [[Name–value pair|key-value pairs]] reportedly stopped working in later builds, resulting in criticism.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-14 |title=So. Now we can not even turn off proton? |url=https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/so-now-we-can-not-even-turn-off-proton/83108 |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=Mozilla Discourse |language=en-US |archive-date=April 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420103515/https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/so-now-we-can-not-even-turn-off-proton/83108 |url-status=live }}</ref> These included accessibility concerns<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-03 |title=What's the status of post-Proton accessibility? |url=https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/what-s-the-status-of-post-proton-accessibility/m-p/7372#M3164 |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=connect.mozilla.org |language=en |archive-date=April 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420103518/https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/what-s-the-status-of-post-proton-accessibility/m-p/7372#M3164 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-01 |title=Bring back menu icons |url=https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/ideas/bring-back-menu-icons/idi-p/46 |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=connect.mozilla.org |language=en}}</ref> despite Mozilla's claim to "continue to work with the accessibility community"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Can Firefox's new look save the web browser? |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/can-firefoxs-new-look-save-the-web-browser |first=Daryl|last=Baxter|date=6 June 2021 |website=TechRadar |language=en}}</ref> and had not been resolved {{As of|2024|10|lc=y}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1704131 – Hard to differentiate between active (foreground) and inactive (background) windows |url=https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1704131 |access-date=2024-10-27 |website=bugzilla.mozilla.org |language=en |archive-date=April 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420103515/https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1704131 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On January 13, 2022, an issue with Firefox's HTTP/3 implementation resulted in a widespread outage for several hours.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://9to5mac.com/2022/01/13/firefox-browser-suddenly-failing-to-load-websites-this-morning-heres-the-fix/ |title=Firefox is suddenly failing to load websites this morning, here's the fix |publisher=9To5Mac |date=January 13, 2021 |access-date=January 13, 2021 |archive-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113104452/https://9to5mac.com/2022/01/13/firefox-browser-suddenly-failing-to-load-websites-this-morning-heres-the-fix/amp/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On September 26, 2023, Firefox 118.0 introduced on-device translation of web page content.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/118.0/releasenotes/ |title=Firefox 118.0, See All New Features, Updates and Fixes |website=Mozilla |date=September 26, 2023 |access-date=February 29, 2024 |archive-date=November 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108034009/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/118.0/releasenotes/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On January 23, 2024, along with the release of Firefox 122.0, Mozilla introduced an official [[APT (software)#Sources|APT repository]] for [[Debian]]-based [[Linux distribution]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/122.0/releasenotes/ |title=Firefox 122.0, See All New Features, Updates and Fixes |date=January 23, 2024 |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=Mozilla |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127213010/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/122.0/releasenotes/ |archive-date=January 27, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>