This is the peculiar rationale behind the name Chrome for Google's browser.
Web browsers are one of the many solutions available in the software industry for a range of applications. These kinds of programs are more crucial than ever, and Google Chrome has the most users.
Furthermore, despite their best efforts, competitors like Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox are far behind. Without a doubt, the majority of you use this browser on your computer or even on your phone, which is provided by the search giant.
Now, some of you might be wondering why Google chose this name for Chrome, one of its most significant projects.
However, if we mention a program called Chrome to someone who is totally uninformed about modern software and technology, they might not connect it to any specific industry or use. Therefore, below, we'll explain where the name the search giant decided to use in this case comes from.
Well, it's worth keeping in mind that Google began working on this project as a web browser in the late 2000s, and at that time, it assigned the codename "Chrome" to the project, something it did from the start. For those of you wondering, this name refers to the materials commonly used in the iconic American muscle cars of the mid-20th century.
If there's anything that sets this particular vehicle apart, it's the chrome that adorns it and the speed it allows enthusiasts to enjoy. That's precisely why the browser we're talking about in these lines was designed, called Chrome, to be a faster and more streamlined alternative to the browsers of the time. Thus, we have a nod to the aforementioned muscle cars, which achieved great success and, in fact, remain very popular among many people around the world.
So, based on the shiny chrome plating of the rims and bumpers of these classic cars, Google wanted to draw a parallel for its new browser. Although Chrome was originally the code name, as you can imagine, it ended up being the final name for the browser. In fact, the development team held an internal contest to choose the final name for the project. But, as Google developer Glenn Murphy later commented, the names that came up were terrible, and Chrome stuck.
The main goal of all this is for users around the world to associate the name of this new program that was to be launched, with the speed and design of the aforementioned muscle cars.