How do you handle cross-browser issues?

1 Causes of cross-browser issues

Cross-browser issues can be caused by a variety of factors, such as the browser engine used (Blink, Gecko, WebKit, Trident) or the version of the browser. Additionally, user settings and preferences on their browsers, such as zoom level, font size, language, extensions, or privacy options can also cause issues. Furthermore, the device being used to access your web application can have different screen sizes, resolutions, orientations, or input methods that can affect how web pages are rendered. All of these factors should be taken into consideration when ensuring cross-browser compatibility.

2 Testing for cross-browser issues

To identify and fix cross-browser issues, you need to test your web application across various browsers, versions, settings, and devices. There are a few methods you can use for this task: manual testing, automated testing, or browser testing services. Manual testing is simple and direct but can be time-consuming; automated testing is faster and more efficient but complex and costly; and browser testing services are convenient and easy to use but expensive and limited. Whichever method you choose, it's important to check for any errors or inconsistencies across different browsers and devices.

3 Best practices for cross-browser compatibility

To prevent or minimize cross-browser issues, you need to follow some best practices and guidelines when developing your web application. This includes using web standards such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, applying progressive enhancement to make sure the page is accessible for all users, utilizing feature detection to make sure the page does not break or crash on browsers that do not support certain features, and validating the code to ensure it follows web standards and does not contain any errors or warnings. These steps will help you avoid potential cross-browser issues and ensure your web page is consistent and compatible with most browsers.

4 Tools for cross-browser development

Cross-browser development can be simplified or automated with the use of tools and resources. Polyfills, for example, are pieces of code that provide functionality or features not supported by some browsers. This way, you can enable your web page to use modern or experimental features on older or incompatible browsers. Prefixes, on the other hand, are keywords added to some CSS properties or values to indicate that they are experimental or vendor-specific. This helps you enable your web page to use new or non-standard CSS features on some browsers that require them. Additionally, transpilers convert one programming language or syntax to another, allowing you to use new or advanced JavaScript features or languages on browsers that don't support them. Lastly, browser compatibility tables are resources that show the level of support for web standards, features, and bugs across different browsers and versions. This helps you check if your web page code is compatible with the browsers you target.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?