No browser on DirectvTV

Hello. We're always working to improve our service and devices. We want to take a closer look on this. We'll send you a DM for further assistance. Valentina, DIRECTV Community Specialist

It is a TV device, not a computer with a keyboard.

Not a shortcoming. Want to browse the internet, get a PC/Laptop, tablet, smart phone, etc.

Although you can plug a keyboard in (with limited utility).  I don't believe any of the major dedicated streaming devices currently come with a web browser installed.  As @Juniper notes, their interface device (remote) isn't very convenient to use for entering text, so it would be fairly painful to use a browser on them. 

Apple TV originally came with Safari, but it was removed several generations ago, and the current recommendation is to AirPLay to the Apple TV from an iPhone or iPad.  As far as I know Roku has never had a browser - the recommendation is similarly to cast from another device running a browser.  Google has never provided Android TV (which the DirecTV streamer runs) with a browser, though there are several available as installable apps from the Google Play store.  I very briefly tried one on the DirecTV device - it worked, but I didn't exercise it enough to know how well.  You should also be able to cast from another device running a browser to the device.  Fire TV doesn't come with a browser, but unlike the other cases, Amazon does offer a browser (Silk) that is designed for Fire TV.  I've never tried it, so I don't know what they've done to make it more convenient to use with the Fire TV remote or how widely used it is - my guess is not very.  You can also cast to it from another device.

The bottom line is that the companies that made these devices and software platforms (not specifically DirecTV) have apparently decided they aren't good devices to run native browsers, but all can have the display from another device running a browser displayed through them on a TV.