We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGEEK

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Technology

What is Google Chrome™ for Linux®?

By Leonardo Von Navorski
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

Google Chrome™ for the Linux operating system is an open-source web browser. The developer's version of Google Chrome™ for Linux was released in June 2009. This version was not meant to be downloaded by consumers; instead, developers were encouraged to test and improve the browser.

The early developer's version lacked many of the features of the stable Google Chrome™ browser for the Microsoft Windows® operating system. The missing features included the ability to play embedded videos at some websites, the ability to adjust the browser privacy settings or even the ability to print from the browser. This developer's version of Google Chrome™ for Linux was released at the same time as the developer's version of Google Chrome™ for Mac OS®.

By December 2009, most of the bugs in the developer's version of Google Chrome™ for Linux had been resolved. At this time, Google officially upgraded the browser to beta status and encouraged non-developers to download the browser and test it. By May 2010, Google officially released a stable version of Google Chrome™ for Linux, along with a stable version of the browser for other popular operating systems.

The original version of Google Chrome™ was released in September of 2008 for Windows®. The company also released the source code for the Linux and Mac OS® ports at this time. Although it was only partially functional, it eventually led to the Google Chrome™ for Linux developer's version and ultimately to the first stable release.

Google Chrome™ is a simplistic but robust browser. The first thing that many users notice about the browser — regardless of the operating system — is that the browser header is simple, straightforward and smaller than its primary competitors. Google is well known for promoting the browser's speed compared to its competitors. The company released a speed test showing the browser's ability to start and open eight browsing tabs in 15 seconds.

A number of extensions are available for the Google Chrome™ for Linux web browser. Google's large, open-source extension and application gallery is accessible with just a few clicks. The gallery is searchable by keyword and extension function. Google Chrome™ for Linux also comes with an optional mode that wipes away every trace of the websites visited during the browsing session. This web browsing mode is sometimes referred to as "porn mode" by some users and members of the media.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

By Logicfest — On May 18, 2014
@Markerrag -- Well the two projects are related and similar but not quite the same. Confused? Well, it is a confusing idea but I'll try to explain it.

Chromium is an open source project launched by Google and Chrome draws its source code from that. There are a few differences between the two browsers. Chrome adds a bit more to the source code and those additions are not open source (i.e., free to distribute with no restrictions). Chromium, for example, doesn't have as many built-in functions but those can be obtained through add-ins. Chromium also natively recognizes fewer audio and video files (but that functionality can be added in).

In short, there's not a whole lot of difference and most people won't notice because the two browsers are very similar (the main difference, honestly, is that Chrome has a colorful logo while the one for Chromium is blue). A lot of Linux distros come bundled with Chromium, so you are likely using that if you have Linux.

In other words, Chrome is based on Chromium but they two are almost identical except for a few proprietary differences in Chrome. Yes, it's a confusing world.

By Markerrag — On May 17, 2014

Wait a minute. I thought the version of Google Chrome for Linux was called Chromium and was somehow different from Chrome. Are the two browsers actually the same thing?

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.