What you need to know about browser compatibility

Few years back, there were not many alternative versions of web browsers to select from. Now there are dozens. In actual fact there may be more than a hundred different browsers, not counting different versions of the same product. Choice is a superb thing, but the expansion of browser software has additionally increased misunderstanding in customers in regards to what they should use. It has been the major bugbear of web developers.

The better news for developers is that the majority of web surfers use Internet Explorer, Firefox and Netscape. The bad news is simply that there are more than 200 flavors of Internet Explorer, Firefox and Netscape. Web pages can look completely different between the different versions. The common debate utilized by web developers to avoid handling compatibility issues is that as the 10% of folk using Netscape is comparatively low, round the 10% mark worldwide ; it's not worthwhile taking those users into account.

This is maybe not a smart way approach the issue, particularly for an ecommerce based site. 10% can make a serious difference to your bottom line, as it is not only Internet Explorer users who buy services and products online. Regardless of whether you do target your internet site to a selected brand of browser; you then have got to handle different versions of that brand. For example; a site designed for IE7 may look different under IE5.

The W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) has been struggling for years for software corporations to supply "compliant" browsers. The notion of compliancy, among other stuff, is to promise a web page looks the same under any browser. Many browsers circulating now aren't "compliant". Sadly, the W3C has had a difficult battle in this but does appear to making some ground. When first attempting to handle cross-browser issues follow some recommendation of industry figures.

A note of warning - if you're running a later version of IE on your system against trying to install another version; it can truly mess with your system. The most suitable choice in this circumstance is to view your internet site from another system, or ask an associate with a previous version to study your website and to send screen captures if an issue appears.

Intend to make your website compatible with all IE and Netscape browsers from version four onwards and all Firefox versions. If you receive mails from indignant visitors saying that your website does not look good; maybe rather than brushing aside the comments or firing back a retaliatory note, you should research by asking for details. It might end up being a favorable exercise. The site could be looking fine to you on your system, but maybe it's not right with the browsers that some visitors are using.

The reality is tailoring a site for cross browser compatibility is a pain. "Compliancy" by W3C standards in no fashion indicates compatibility with all browsers. But the advantages of taking that bit of additional time can pay off in time by permitting you to get your idea across, or to secure sales from a broader consumer base.