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Opera is a World Wide Web client, ie. a program for retrieving information on the World
Wide Web via documents created with the HyperText Markup Language (HTML). Opera
also supports secure connections via the Secure Socket Layer (SSL), which is used for online
purchases or banking, where your personal information is encrypted before sent across the Net.
Opera can also be used to retrieve information using FTP, Gopher and WAIS, and for
reading newsgroups. The same simple user interface is used for all these services. You can
also send electronic mail using Opera, or link to an external mail program. 
Furthermore Opera can play WAV and MID sound files, display GIF and JPG images, play
AVI videos (provided you have Video for Windows installed). 
Opera has been written for Microsoft Windows, and uses the standard Windows program
design philosophy. Users will therefore recognize most of the functions from other programs,
such as text editing, etc. 
The menus follow the standards, the button bar has the normal sequence, and other features,
e.g. the ability to have multiple windows open simultaneously, will be familiar from Windows
use. 
The developers of Opera, are concerned that the program will be easy to use for as many
people as possible, and so they have also included the ability to use the program with the 
keyboard, which will be useful for all those who are not comfortable with prolonged use of a
mouse. The emphasis has been on fast and simple access to the important functions, and that
it is also user-friendly for those with different handicaps. 
Opera's developers are also concerned that it should be possible to use the Internet without
being a language specialist. It is always useful to learn another language, but the intention is that
you will be able to buy this program in your own language. Opera has already been produced
in: