The first graphical web browser, Mosaic, was developed by the company NCSA (National Center for Supercomputing Applications) in the early 1990s. Mosaic played a significant role in popularizing the World Wide Web by providing users with a more interactive and visually appealing browsing experience compared to text-based browsers. Its development marked a turning point in web usage, making it easier for non-technical users to navigate and access information online. Mosaic set the stage for the growth of subsequent web browsers, influencing the direction of web development.