iPhone Basics: Browsing with Safari

Lesson 8: Browsing with Safari

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Browsing with Safari

Safari is a web browser that comes built in to the iPhone. You'll use it to access websites on your device. Safari's interface is similar to those you might find on a desktop web browser, and it also has a few unique features to make mobile browsing easier.

Getting to know Safari

Click the buttons in the interactive below to learn more about the Safari interface.

Browsing online

Safari includes several features that make online browsing easy. We've included some of the most helpful features below.

The Favorites page

When you create a new tab, the Favorites page will appear, which includes shortcuts to your most frequently visited websites. You can tap a website to navigate to that page or enter a URL into the address bar.

Opening a link in a new tab

If you find a link to a website, you can open that link in a new tab. This allows you to open the site without losing your place on the original page.

To open a link in a new tab, tap and hold the link, then select Open in New Tab.

Multi-touch zoom

Sometimes the text of webpages may appear too small. Luckily, there are two ways to zoom in and out using multi-touch gestures:

Double-tap the screen: This gesture will automatically zoom the content to fit the screen. Double-tap again to zoom out.
Pinch the screen: This gesture allows you to zoom in and out manually.

Screen orientation

Remember, you can always rotate the iPhone to change the screen orientation. Some websites may work well in portrait mode, while others will look best in landscape mode.

Adding websites to your Home screen

If you find that you frequently visit the same website, you might want to add the site as a bookmark. If you want even faster access, you can add an icon to a website on your Home screen. Just tap the Share button, scroll over and select Add to Home Screen, then click Add.