Does Brave Have a Built-in Ad Blocker?

Yes, Brave has a built-in ad blocker. This feature allows users to enhance their browsing experience by blocking ads and trackers, which not only improves browsing speed but also enhances privacy. Users can customize the blocking settings to suit their preferences, and even allow certain ads if desired.

Brave Shields: Simplified Ad Blocking

One of the standout features of Brave is its Brave Shields, which is viewable right in the address bar. Brave Shields not only blocks ads but also disables third-party trackers without relying on potentially harmful add-ons. This is possible due to the browser's use of open-source lists, allowing users to easily tweak what is blocked and what isn't.

How Brave Blocks Ads

Brave leverages a sophisticated mechanism to block ads. When you load a webpage, the ad blocker examines the various resources that will be loaded, compares them against a list of known advertising sources, and then blocks the ads accordingly.

Ad blockers use a set of criteria to differentiate between what is and what is not an ad, with additional rules to identify and block both harmful and less harmful ads. Typically, ad blockers employ two extra techniques to ensure that ads are not displayed on the user's screen:

1. Blocking HTTP Requests

Many web advertisements originate from servers separate from the websites they appear on. For example, the content of a page might be hosted on a website's server, while the ads are hosted on different servers. Ad blockers that use HTTP techniques can identify these ads and prevent the browser from even attempting to load them. This is achieved by cutting off the request early, which stops the ads from ever being loaded.

2. Hiding an Element

If an ad is present on the page, an ad blocker can use custom JavaScript to hide the element. This process works by overwriting the ad in the CSS, which changes how the website is displayed in your browser. While hiding an element is a more common technique, some ad blockers still use request blocking to disable ads before they even load.

Brave's Ad-Blocking Capabilities and Open-Source Lists

Brave comes with a simple built-in ad blocking solution that supports Adblock Plus (ABP) filter syntax. This feature has been around for a while, and we've previously analyzed how it affects the cost of ad-blocking and the growth of popular ad-blocking lists. While some rules may go unused, the simplicity and effectiveness of Brave's ad-blocking feature make it a popular choice for users who prioritize privacy and a clutter-free browsing experience.

Overall, Brave's built-in ad blocker is a powerful tool for enhancing your browsing experience. With its user-friendly interface and advanced blocking techniques, Brave provides a seamless experience that balances speed, privacy, and ad-free browsing.