What are "Extensions" and what purpose do they serve?

ExplainitomelikeIm2yrsold wrote:

I still do not understand the difference between the "browser" and the "search engine."

A Web browser lets you visit Web sites, like this one. A Web page may consist of a bunch of text, pictures, and codes that have to be "assembled" (by a browser) for you to interact with the Web page in the way you expect. Web pages may also contain connections to services which are running on somebody else's computer systems. (E.g., when you go to a banking site, the bank's computers may send your computer the data it needs to format Web pages, but the bank's computers control the books at all times.)

Safari, Firefox, Chrome, and Edge (on Windows PCs) are browsers.

A search engine helps you find things based on search terms. You access search engines through Web browsers, sometimes by going to a special Web page (like https://www.google.com/ ), sometimes by using search fields that a browser conveniently provides. Search engines generate results in the form of Web pages, and thus depend on browsers to show you those results.

Google and Bing are search engines.

What Extension are you seeing...?

Take a Screenshot of the message or panel,

see > Take a screenshot on your Mac - Apple Support

Then post the Screenshot using the Image Insertion tool on the ASC tool bar.

For a basic explanation about what System Extensions are,

read > About system extensions and macOS - Apple Support

Depends on the context where your are seeing them:

• Browser Extensions alter the behavior of the browser
• System Extensions alter the behavior of the system

Extensions can also be a source of trouble, as it is the developer that must update the extensions and also ensures it works correctly. For example, there are some browser extensions that will interfere with the normal loading of a web page and there are System Extensions that can conflict with the normal operation of your computer and either slow it down or cause it to crash.

Browser extensions are things that add functionality to the browser. A common example is an ad blocker. Another example is a third party password application such as 1Password.You can find other examples by opening Safari and clicking "Safari Extensions ..." in the menu item named Safari. You can download and install extensions from that menu item.

If you did not deliberately install an extension (whether it's for Safari or the Mac's operating system) then none are installed.

To "install" in this context means to provide your user name and password when they are requested, in order to permit some kind of alteration to your Mac. Whenever you are asked to provide those credentials you should know what's asking for them, and why.

ExplainitomelikeIm2yrsold wrote:

I still do not understand the difference between the "browser" and the "search engine."

In addition to Servant of Cats's excellent explanation. A browser is an application. Applications are programs that reside on your computer, such as "Mail" or "Calendar." The browser that Apple provides is called "Safari." Web browsers are used to access websites, which can be something like CNN for news, The Weather Channel or the Apple Support Communities.

Search engines are giant databases that collect information about where things are on the internet. You can then ask these search engines to find things for you. You access the search engine by going to a website with your browser. For example, you open Safari (browser) and type in www.google.com (search engine), and then you can type in your query.

In some cases, one company will offer both a browser and a search engine. For example, Google/Alphabet has a browser, Chrome, and a search engine, Google. Microsoft has a browser, Edge, and a search engine, Bing. Apple offers a browser, Safari. However, Apple does not run its own search engine.

maybe What exactly is a browser extension? | Community (calendly.com)

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browser extensions for dummies - Google-