NCSA Mosaic, or simply
Mosaic, is a discontinued early
web browser. It has been credited with popularizing the
World Wide Web. It was also a client for earlier
protocols such as
FTP,
NNTP, and
gopher. The browser was named for its support of multiple internet protocols. Its intuitive interface, reliability,
Windows port and simple installation all contributed to its popularity within the web, as well as on Microsoft operating systems. Mosaic was also the first browser to display images inline with text instead of displaying images in a separate window. While often described as the first
graphical web browser, Mosaic was preceded by
WorldWideWeb, the lesser-known
Erwise and
ViolaWWW.