Opera

Opera is a web browser that was first publicly released by Opera Software in 1996. It is based on Chromium and thus uses the Blink layout engine.

Editions and features
Opera is available in a few different editions:
 * Opera browser: The stable edition of Opera intended for use of the public. Includes ad blocker, VPN service, WhatsApp Web, Facebook Messenger and Instagram integration (desktop only), as well as Speed Dial and a QR Code scanner (mobile only). With the Flow feature, the user can send webpages and messages from the desktop to the mobile browser and vice versa. For Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, iPadOS, Windows.
 * Opera beta: Same as the stable version but with decreased stability and reliability as there could be some bugs. Previously also called Opera Next.
 * Opera developer: Only intended for experimental use (Early Adopters), as this edition has the fewest stability. For macOS, Linux and Windows.
 * Opera Mini: Lightweight edition of the Opera browser for iOS and Android, uses the WebWiew engine on Android phones and the WebKit engine on iPhones instead of an own. No VPN service.
 * Opera Mini Beta: Pre-release edition of the aforementioned Opera Mini.
 * Opera GX: see sub-article on this page
 * Opera Neon: Former concept browser with a completely different UI. Development ceased.
 * Opera Touch: A smartphone-optimized edition of Opera for iOS and Android released in 2018. Main feature is the "Fast Action Button", which is the main control center of the browser and features one-handed navigation, however it can be disabled. Also includes a QR code scanner. Winner of the "Red Dot Design Award 2018".

Opera also created versions of Opera Mini and Mobile for other mobile OS such as Symbian, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone, Blackberry OS, as well as feature phones. The Opera Mobile Emulator brought the mobile browser also to Windows. As of today, the development has been ceased for most OS, as they have been no longer supported by the manufacturer.

History
Opera 2.0 was the first version of the browser released to the public. Its predecessor, MultiTorg Opera 1, was only intended for internal usage.

Until Opera 5.0, the browser was available free as a 30-day trial. After the trial expired, the user was forced to pay for the browser to continue using it. With Opera 5.0, released in 2000, the browser was no longer tied to a trial. It has become free to use, however it showed banners with either text-based personalized ads by Google (which was a option in a later release) or a stock banner of Opera Software to pay for the ad-free edition.

Opera 8.5 got rid of the ads and is the first version to be offered as completely free.

Opera 76 is the first version of Opera that works with Macs with the Apple M1 SoC.

Opera GX
Opera GX is an edition of the Opera browser optimized for gaming. It was announced on 11 June 2019. Version 60.0.3255.50747 of the aforementioned date is the initial release of Opera GX for Windows, version 68.0.3618.206 of 23 July 2020 for macOS. Opera GX for Linux is still in development as of September 2021. On 19 May 2021, Opera GX Version 1.0.0 has been launched for Android and iOS. Unlike the Desktop versions, it is not based on the main Opera product, instead it is based on Opera Touch, a smartphone-optimized edition of Opera. Requires at least Android 7.1, OS X 10.11 or Windows 7/Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 and later.