Conventional web development has often relied on one browser, usually Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, to render web sites as they were intended. But now, with users increasingly accessing the web on multiple devices, browsers and platforms, cross browser development poses an array of unique challenges to developers. Fortunately, there are a number of solutions and best practices available to help developers ensure their websites render correctly across multiple browsers.
The first issue faced by developers when faced with cross browser development is the sheer number of browsers and platforms. There are a variety of popular browsers such as Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Opera and Internet Explorer which all run on different operating systems such as Windows, macOS and Linux as well as mobile platforms such as iOS and Android. Not only do developers need to take into consideration the capabilities of each browser, but also the version of each browser.
The second challenge is the different rendering engines. A browser’s rendering engine determines how a page is rendered on the user’s screen. This means the same elements of a website may render differently on different browsers. For example, Internet Explorer uses the Trident engine, while Chrome and Safari both use the Webkit engine.
The third problem is the sprawling array of web technologies such as HTML, JavaScript, CSS and AJAX. Different browsers have different levels of support for these technologies and will interpret them differently.
With all these issues, the best solution is to use a standardized approach to develop cross browser compatible web applications. This means avoiding proprietary technologies, ensuring standards compliance and validating code. By using the latest web standards, developers can ensure that their technology works across a range of browsers.
Additionally, developers should test their websites on multiple platforms and browsers. By using virtualization software such as VirtualBox, developers can deploy different operating systems and versions of browsers on the same machine to conduct testing. They can also use browser simulators such as CrossBrowserTesting to test their websites on multiple platforms.
Finally, developers should consider using popular libraries and frameworks such as HTML5 Boilerplate, Bootstrap, and jQuery that are designed to ensure cross-browser compatibility.
Ultimately, the key to successful cross-browser development lies in the ability to anticipate problems and plan accordingly. By understanding the various challenges posed by different browsers and platforms, developers can ensure their websites render correctly across all users.