Browser history is the record a web browser keeps of the pages you have visited, including addresses, titles and visit times. It is stored on your device and powers the history page, address-bar suggestions and the coloring of visited links.
Why it matters
History makes it easy to find a page again, but it also reveals your activity to anyone using the same device or signed-in account. If you sync history across devices, a copy is stored with your browser account. Clearing history removes the list but is not the same as clearing cookies or the cache, and it does not erase records held by websites, employers or your internet provider.
Example
You open a recipe site on Monday. On Thursday you type "rec" in the address bar and the browser suggests that page from history. In a private window the same visit would not be saved to history, though the sites you visit can still see you.
Common misconceptions
- Deleting history makes your browsing invisible. Websites, networks and ISPs may still hold their own logs.
- History, cookies and cache are the same thing. They are stored and cleared separately.
- Private mode protects you from a workplace or school network.
Related
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