Users often rely on the list of workgroups, domains, and computers visible from the My Network Places folder to determine which resources are accessible from their local computers. Computer Browser service, which operates on all Microsoft Windows–based computers, collects and distributes this list. Computer Browser service also provides interoperability with domains and computers that do not use the Active Directory directory service.

The Computer Browser Service Technical Reference documentation includes information about Computer Browser service mechanisms, time intervals, announcements and elections, and interoperability with various network configurations.

In this subject

• What Is Computer Browser Service?
  
  
• How Computer Browser Service Works