Cross-Browser Compatibility

alexw · 8 Apr 2012 at 14:59

While putting together my new website, I've started wondering...

What browsers & versions thereof would you say it is necessary/best to check the compatibility of a website on?

I guess that a bare minimum would be to check how one's website works on the most up-to-date versions of the most popular browsers on Mac & Windows, but are there any others that are particularly useful or wise to have a check on?

My current routine would be to take a look at the most up-to-date versions I can get of Safari, Firefox, Opera & Chrome on my Mac and the same plus Internet Explorer on my PC.

Thanks.

Any other tips? I've tried using browsershots.org a few times too.

GravyMonster · 8 Apr 2012 at 15:00

The minimum I usually work to is IE8. If you can make it work there, it is pretty much guaranteed to work in everything else.

Dj_Jestar · 8 Apr 2012 at 15:10

We test in chrome, ff, safari and ie version 6, 7, 8 and 9.

We test for ie6+7 still as we have a large client that refuse to update.

StatCounter show IE as still the highest used browser, version 8 being the highest, though the trend predicts v9 will overtake it soon enough. The trend also predicts Chrome will be the daddy browser soon.

Other significant stats shown for Chrome, Firefox and Safari.

There are minimal/negligent "other" browsers in play.

alexw · 8 Apr 2012 at 15:15

Thanks. It sounds like my routine is pretty decent then.

I'm beginning to see what people mean about IE now as well!

FabienO · 8 Apr 2012 at 17:53

I was in the cinema and there was an IE9 advert before the film.

IE6 has been dropped by IE btw. It's all dependant upon your viewer base.

inogen · 8 Apr 2012 at 18:21

Yip. All depends what browsers are being used to view it.

If people want IE6 compatibility I tend to charge extra for it.

I have one particular client who's a bugger for it. They're based in Spain, where there's loads of IE6, but they still want all the latest bells and whistles...

Limenote · 8 Apr 2012 at 20:05

get it working flawless in ie7 and most other issues will be trivial, in my experience chrome is by far the most forgiving, IE has some silly bugs but you have to be considering it as a baseline at all times.

GravyMonster · 9 Apr 2012 at 13:40

FabienO said:
IE6 has been dropped by IE btw. It's all dependant upon your viewer base.

I don't know what you mean by 'dropped' as MS still offer IE6 support until 2014.