Importance of having a cross-browser compatible web site

• Author: Jarrod Goddard
• Date: November 13, 2006 9:38:43am PST
• Posted To: Search Engine Optimization, Web Browsers, Internet Marketing, Web Standards, Web Accessibility

Many web developers overlook the importance of having a cross-browser compatible web site, but to develop a truly effective web site that is both user-friendly and search engine friendly, having a cross-browser compatible web site is absolutely imperative.

Usability/Accessibility

You want your web site to be available to as many people as possible. Ensuring that your web site works across multiple platforms, web browsers, and devices will ensure that your web site is accessible to as wide a range of people as possible.

Search Engines

By making sure your web site works across multiple browsers/platforms, you are also ensuring that search engines will have minimal issues when navigating and crawling your web site. This will help get your web site indexed properly to start driving traffic to your web site.

Business Image

It looks horrible on your business if someone tries to get to your web site and the images or navigation are not working properly. With such a wide range of browsers available, you can be certain that not everyone, although a strong majority, will be using Internet Explorer. What if you are talking with some new customers, or potential business clients and they do some research on your company through the Internet. They may be using Opera, Firefox, Safari, or some other browser aside from Internet Explorer.

Tips For A Cross-Browser Compatible Web Site

1. Use valid XHTML and CSS code.
2. Use DOM-standard Javascripting, but ensure it is unobtrusive so it won't negatively affect user experience if javascript is turned off.
3. Try to use as little plug-in related cotent as possible (flash and other multimedia) becase browser support varies, and always provide alternate content for plug-in related content.
4. Use progressive enhancement methodologies. (From wikipedia, and another progressive enhancement article.

Testing A Cross-Browser Compatible Web Site

1. Test in multiple web browsers (these cover most rendering engines (gecko, IE, KHTML, Opera))
   1. Internet Explorer 6 and 7
   2. Firefox
   3. Opera
   4. Safari (MAC)
2. Test in multiple platforms
   1. Windows
   2. Mac OS
   3. Linux
3. Test web site on your cell phone
4. Test in a text-based web browser
5. Test your web site with JavaScript and CSS turned off. Also known as the 10 second usability test

When conducting these tests look for any display inconsistencies, you are bound to find at least a couple. When you do you need to evaluate how critical it is for you to fix it. Sometimes it means that some browsers will add some extra padding or margins. If that doesn't break your layout then it isn't that big a deal. However, if your menus don't work or your fonts display differently then you have a problem. Don't forget to run through your site with CSS and JavaScript turned off to check for any issues there as well.