[5] xombrero is based on the WebKit engine[6] and provides an ability to control cookies, plug-ins and JavaScript policies on per-website basis.

[7][8] xombrero was designed for experienced command-line interface users, so it includes the features typically requested by such an audience: mouseless browsing, no URL prefetch, vi-like user interface and navigation (including command mode), plain text file configuration, and link hinting.

[8][9][10] xombrero provides a command mode (designed after vi) for entering commands for the common tasks, including tabs (buffers) switching, entering URLs, following links and navigating through browser history and bookmarks.

With these panels enabled and a mouse attached, the user may operate xombrero like Firefox or Midori.

The development of the browser began in February 2010 under the name "xxxterm" by several OpenBSD users specifically for that operating system.