What is the default web browser on macOS?

Safari is the default web browser on macOS. Developed by Apple, it is included with every Mac and is designed to work closely with Apple’s operating system, hardware, and privacy features.

Safari first appeared in January 2003 as part of Mac OS X Jaguar. Later that year, Apple made it the default browser in Mac OS X Panther, replacing Microsoft Internet Explorer for Mac. Its browser engine, WebKit, grew from the open-source KHTML project and also became important to the early development of mobile web browsing.

Safari is not the only browser that can run on a Mac. Users may install Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or other browsers, and macOS allows them to choose a different default. That user setting does not change the canonical answer: Safari is the browser Apple supplies as the system default. Safari also powers browsing on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro.