browse

To browse is the act of casual looking or reading, simply to see what's there. On the Internet, this means reviewing, scanning, or looking through information presented through a web browser, an Internet application (or window) through which information is presented.

Browsing on the Internet is similar to browsing the shelves of a library, just to see what's there and what might catch your attention. A fair amount of genealogy is serendipity, the seemingly accidental discovery of important information -- this is the benefit of browsing. While researchers might have a particular objective in mind as they browse, keeping the mind -- and eyes -- open to new discoveries can yield positive results. Browsing can bring to attention relevant information or titles that were previously unrecognized.