Cross Browser Compatibility with Javascript

Cross browser compatibility is the ability of a website or web application to function as expected across different browsers and degrade gracefully when browser features are absent or lacking. This includes how the UI is represented across different browsers and how the application functionalities perform.

Sometimes, web developers create apps that are not Cross-Browser-Compatible and realize this only when it has gotten to the end users. There are a number of browsers out there and different browsers would render your javascript code differently. It is important to keep this in mind through the development process.

Some common causes of browser incompatibility are : 1. Basic difference in browsers . For example, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, etc. 2. Outdated browsers. 3. Libraries and plug-ins used in code.

Here are some ways to combat or avoid browser compatibility issues

1. Validate your code. Ensure that your code is clean and simple. It should follow coding best practices. For example, using ES6 in javascript, cross checking for errors like using incorrect or no Doctype, incorrect use of loops within functions. This can be avoided by using promises.

2. Know your target audience. It is important to know who the end users of your application would be. Are you making an app for the ‘old-cat-ladies’ who would probably be using internet explorer on windows XP, with poor internet? When you know your target audience, you would know how to tailor your app to fit the browsers your audience would most likely use.

3. Have a fail plan. Yes, sometimes some features would fail to load properly. And when a feature doesn’t load, does it totally disrupt the main flow of the app? Don’t keep your users in the dark when features fail to load. Let your users know what is going on when certain features fail to load or do not load as expected. For example, using the ‘alt’ attribute to describe an image when it fails to load.

4. Keep your design simple. A simple design and implementation is easier to maintain than a complex one. This also makes it easy to manage and implement your fail plan when certain features do not load as expected.

5. Check browser support for your plug-ins and frameworks. Ensure that the plug-ins and frameworks you use are compatible across target browsers. And have an alternative when

6. Reuse and reduce components This is a coding best practice. It can be done with the use of functions, classes, promises, etc. This would ensure your code is easy to maintain and prevent it from getting cumbersome.

7. Test, test, test! Test across browsers as you develop. This would enable you identify browser variances to your features, so you can attend to the as you develop.

8. Use frameworks that target specific browsers when necessary Browser sniffing and user agents can be used to adjust the functionality of your app on different browsers to fit your expectations. JavaScript Transpiling and polyfills can also be used to provide for old browsers.

9. Follow best coding practices!