Google created the Chromium browser project that became the basis of Google Chrome.
Google released Chrome in 2008, building it from the open-source Chromium project. Chromium supplies much of the browser’s code, including its rendering and browser architecture, while Google Chrome adds Google-specific components and branding.
The project used the WebKit rendering engine at launch and later adopted Blink, a rendering engine developed from WebKit. Chromium’s open-source code also became the foundation for several other browsers, although those products can differ in features, licensing, and included services.
Chromium and Chrome are therefore related but not identical names. Chromium is the open-source browser project, while Chrome is Google’s distributed browser product. This distinction is a common source of confusion when discussing browser market share or privacy features.