Understanding Browsers: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

Browsers are programs that enable people to visit and view websites. It seems obvious, but we rarely think about the tools we use every day, and most of us use a browser every day.

There are many browsers to choose from, which increases competition and leads to different browsers offering different services. While this can be good in some ways, it can also create issues for the people who design and build websites, because not all browsers behave or display websites the same.

Another issue with the myriad browsers is that not everyone using a particular browser is using the latest version of it, which means that some features, changes, and improvements are not experienced by some of the people viewing a website. As a result, designers and developers must continually follow the most popular browser versions and be aware of lesser-used versions to understand how to design and build to ensure that visitors to a website receive the best experience possible.

Finally, many people visit websites on mobile devices, which have their own browsers. These mobile browsers may support fewer features depending on their limitations and the limitations of the devices they are on.

A Selection of Common Web Browsers

• Internet Explorer (version 7 and higher)
• Firefox (versions 3.7 and higher)
• Chrome
• Safari
• Opera

A Selection of Common Mobile Browsers

• Android
• Dolphin
• Chrome
• Firefox
• Internet Explorer
• Opera Mini/Mobile
• Safari
• Nokia
• Blackberry