Ensuring Browser and Cross-platform Compatibility

To maximize the benefits of your Internet or intranet sites, the sites must be accessible to everyone. Browser compatibility means ensuring that Web pages display in a consistent format on all browsers. Designers and developers need to consider the following browser compatibility issues when they write their code.

1. Software and hardware usage differs among users, requiring cross-browser and cross-platform compatibility
2. Web browsers interpret HTML code differently; for example, some Web browsers support proprietary HTML extensions that are not a part of standard HTML
3. New versions of browsers generally add features that are not available in older versions, so you need to be aware of differences among different versions of the same browser
4. Web browsers also support different versions and implementations of languages such as Java or Flash

To account for these disparities, it is best to design to the most common denominator.

Microsoft Edge does not use the same C++ code base as Google Chrome. However, it does use the same underlying technology, which is the "Chromium project". Here's a breakdown:

• Chromium: This is an open-source project led by Google, forming the core foundation for both Chrome and Edge. It includes code for rendering web pages, handling security, and interacting with the operating system.
• Microsoft Edge: Microsoft forked the Chromium project in 2019 and built their own browser on top of it. They replaced some Google-specific components and added their own features and optimizations. So, Edge shares the core functionality of Chrome but has its own distinct identity.
• Google Chrome: This continues to use the Chromium project but also includes additional Google-specific features and functionalities, such as deep integration with Google services and proprietary tracking technologies.

Therefore, while Edge and Chrome share some similarities due to the common Chromium base, they are not identical in terms of code or overall functionality.

When you design your Web site for cross-platform compatibility, keep in mind that fonts do not display the same on Windows-based computers and Macintosh computers.

Likewise, colors, and even the placement of objects, do not display the same on Windows-based computers and Macintosh computers. Only 216 colors display consistently on both platforms.

In the next lesson, how to create Web pages for consistent performance will be discussed.

Click the Quiz link below to test your knowledge of Web site navigation tools and cross-platform compatibility issues.
Navigation Compatibility Quiz