The ensuing "First Browser War" (1995–2001) saw Microsoft and Netscape race to add new features like cookies, SSL, and JavaScript. Microsoft eventually won by leveraging its dominance in the operating system market; by bundling IE for free with every copy of Windows, they "cut off the air supply" to Netscape, which charged for its browser. This aggressive bundling strategy eventually led to a landmark against Microsoft in 1998. Key Versions and Innovations

During its 27-year lifespan, Microsoft released 11 major versions of Internet Explorer: Putting Microsoft's Explorer 9 Through Its Paces - WSJ

Microsoft released in July 1995 as part of the "Microsoft Plus!" add-on for Windows 95. At the time, Netscape Navigator was the undisputed leader with nearly 90% of the market.

was the world’s most dominant web browser for over a decade, serving as the primary gateway to the internet for millions of people. Launched in 1995, it peaked with a staggering 95% market share in the early 2000s before a long decline led to its official retirement on June 15, 2022. The Rise and First Browser War