Confused about applications - New Mac User

For firefox what happens is your DL the dmg file, open it, move that FF icon to your applications folder, unmount (eject) the DMG file (open finder and you'll see the universal eject symbol) and then trash the dmg.

Basically the dmg is a container and usually you're only having to drag and drop the application icon into your application folder. There are fewer instances when something "installs" as you know it within OSX.

 

Drag the Firefox app that's located in the .DMG to your Applications folder. Say goodbye to installer's on Mac OS X

 

Yes, this situation leads to much confusion for many new Mac users. Generally when a download is a DMG all you have to do to install the application is drag it to your applications folder. Thats it! Then eject the DMG (disk image) and you can throw that away. Run the application from your applications folder, no setup or install needed.

Now if you ever download a DMG that contains a Package file, then that is an installer that you run from the DMG. You'll know its a package file because the icon looks like a brown box (i.e. package).

 

great way to install/ uninstall. just delete from application folder.