Tutorials: Opera Browser - Originally developed in Norway in 1995

By Mihai Cornel

 


Opera is one of the oldest and most feature-rich web browsers on the market. Originally developed in Norway in 1995, it spent its early years as a standalone, proprietary browser. Today, it runs on the Chromium engine (the same foundational technology that powers Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge), meaning it is highly compatible with almost every website and can run standard Chrome extensions.

What makes Opera stand out is its philosophy: instead of forcing you to install dozen of third-party extensions, it builds advanced utilities directly into the software.

Key Built-In Features

  • Integrated Messaging & Social Sidebar: Opera features a permanent sidebar that lets you chat on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Discord, and Instagram without opening new tabs or separate apps.

  • Native AI Assistant (Aria): Built-in collaboration tools powered by OpenAI and Google Gemini allow you to summarize articles, write code, or generate text right from the UI.

  • Free Built-In VPN: Unlike most browsers that require a paid subscription for privacy, Opera has a free, unlimited browser-level VPN to mask your location and encrypt your browsing traffic.

  • Tab Islands: A unique organization feature that automatically groups related tabs together into collapsible "islands" so your browser top-bar stays clean.

  • Ad & Tracker Blocker: A native ad-blocker that stops annoying pop-ups, halts tracking scripts, and helps web pages load significantly faster.

The Opera Product Lineup

Opera doesn't just make one browser; they have tailored versions depending on what you do most:

Browser VersionBest ForStandout Capability
Opera OneGeneral UsersThe standard desktop flagship with the modular design, AI, and Tab Islands.
Opera GXGamersFeatures RAM, CPU, and Network limiters so the browser doesn't lag your PC while gaming.
Opera CryptoWeb3 EnthusiastsIncludes a native, secure crypto wallet and built-in decentralized app (dApp) support.
Opera MiniMobile (Low Data)Uses extreme cloud data compression to save up to 90% of your mobile data.

Under the Hood: Because Opera moved to the Chromium engine, it offers the exact same speed and webpage compatibility as Google Chrome, but it generally uses less background memory and offers far more customization out of the box.

Supported Platforms (Where it Works)

Opera is highly cross-platform and works seamlessly across almost all desktop and mobile operating systems. In 2026, the software officially supports:

💻 Desktop

  • Windows: Windows 10 and Windows 11 (64-bit).

  • macOS: macOS 12 (Monterey) and later.

  • Linux: 64-bit distributions such as Ubuntu 18.04+, Debian, Fedora, and openSUSE.

  • Chromebook: ChromeOS (via the Google Play Store Android app or Linux container).

📱 Mobile & Tablets

  • Android: Android 10 and newer (via Google Play Store).

  • iOS & iPadOS: iOS/iPadOS 15 and later for iPhones and iPads (via Apple App Store).

  • Basic Phones: Opera Mini is supported on legacy or keypad phones running on basic 2G networks.

How to Install Opera

Installing Opera is free, safe, and only takes a few minutes.

On Windows and macOS

  1. Open your current web browser (like Edge or Safari) and go to the official website: opera.com.

  2. Click the prominent "Download Now" or "Download Opera" button. The website will automatically detect whether you are using Windows or Mac.

  3. Once the file downloads:

    • Windows: Double-click the downloaded .exe installer file. A setup window will appear; click Accept and Install.

    • macOS: Open the downloaded .dmg package, then drag and drop the Opera icon into your Applications folder.

  4. Launch the browser. It will guide you through a quick onboarding setup where you can import your bookmarks, passwords, and history from your old browser.

On Android, iPhone, or iPad

  1. Open the Google Play Store (Android) or Apple App Store (iOS/iPadOS) on your device.

  2. Search for "Opera Browser".

  3. Tap Install or Get.

  4. Optional: If you choose to sign in with a free Opera Account, you can instantly sync your tabs, history, and passwords between your mobile phone and computer using a feature called Flow.

On Linux

  • The Easy Way: Open your Linux software center (like Ubuntu Software), search for Opera, and click install.

  • Via Terminal (Ubuntu/Debian): You can download the official .deb package from Opera's website, or install it as a Snap package by opening the terminal and typing:

sudo snap install opera


 

Tab Islands is one of Opera's most innovative features, designed to solve the age-old problem of "tab overload" without forcing you to manually organize your workspace.

If you are the kind of browsing chameleon who keeps 50 tabs open at once, Tab Islands acts like an automated, intelligent filing cabinet right at the top of your screen.

How It Works

Instead of letting your tabs squeeze together until you can only see their icons, Opera automatically groups related tabs together into distinct, color-coded "islands."

  • Automatic Grouping: If you are shopping on Amazon and middle-click three different products to view them in new tabs, Opera recognizes they are part of the same task. It instantly links them together into a single, cohesive Tab Island.

  • Collapsible Slots: You can click the colored vertical line on the left side of an island to collapse it. Five tabs instantly shrink into the space of one, clean up your browser bar, and keep your workspace tidy. Click it again to expand them when you need them.

  • Visual Distinction: Each island is separated by a clear visual gap and given a distinct color border, making it incredibly easy to jump between different projects (e.g., separating your "Work Spreadsheet" island from your "Vacation Planning" island).

Manual Control

While the browser is smart enough to create islands on its own, you have total control over them:

  1. Create an Island Manually: Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac), click the tabs you want to group, right-click, and select "Create Tab Island."

  2. Drag and Drop: You can easily drag a tab out of an island to make it standalone, or drag a separate tab into an existing island.

  3. Move or Close Entire Islands: Right-clicking the island’s handle allows you to close all the tabs in that group at once, reload them, or move the entire island to a new window.

Combined with Opera's Workspaces feature (which lets you separate your browsing into different profiles like "Home," "Work," or "Gaming"), Tab Islands completely changes how you manage heavy multitasking.

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