18.3 Sketching browsers
To ease the conception of browsers we can use a dedicated notation to capture the critical aspects: Pane, Port, Transmission and Presentation (and Browsers). A sketch of a browser and the corresponding legend can be seen below.
The flow of a browser can soon become complex and difficult to follow. This notation is meant to be used during the process of designing the browser to untangle this complexity.
Use this even for simple browsers. Before coding a browser, start by sketching it on a paper. This will help you crystalize the way the information flows through your browser.