Browser Specific Sites

I once investigated a "business opportunity", which was a long standing and reputable business. Their site required Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher. I was using a Mac, and the highest version of that browser at the time was 5.0. I was prevented from even looking, because their site required a browser I could not even get.

Some people still design sites for IE, or Mozilla, or whatever. Now, when it is just a matter of it looking a bit better, or having an extra feature in the browser of your choice, that is one thing. But when key function of the site is dependent on the site visitor using the browser you specify, that is, in my opinion, pretty dumb.

The facts are that internet users, by and large, do NOT keep more than one browser on their hard drive. Those who do, use the one they choose for very strong reasons, and do not choose to use a different one even if they DO have it lurking around. To tell them that what they are using is not good enough, and that to use your site they have to do it YOUR way, is tantamount to saying "Go away, we don't want you here unless you follow our rules!"

There are only certain circumstances in which you would EVER have a reason to design a site that did not function correctly in more than one browser - generally in ALL of them!

  1. When you know, through research, that your site visitors are all going to have high powered computers, and are going to use a specific browser - such as a Linux Only Online Gaming site that requires Mozilla.

  2. When that is the only possible way you can get the necessary function, and it cannot be done any other way. I cannot think of a single instance when this would be the case, but it could conceivably be.

The real kicker is that most of the time it is NOT an issue of actual function! A slightly different coding would eliminate the need for a specific browser. Most browser specific issues are not a matter of NEED, but a matter of choice. Sometimes they are a lack of consideration, borne of thoughtlessness.

Even if 90% of your site visitors use a single browser, to make your site REQUIRE that browser is still stupid. Because 10% of your visitors being told to go away is NOT smart business! Even if you get just 2000 visitors a month, that is 200 that you are sending a rude message to, that you do not value them, and that you want to control their computer more than they think you should. And they are right!

When coding essential features for your site such as layout, navigation, and function, use standards that are compatible across the board, and which are not browser dependent. Your site visitors may never thank you for it - if you do your job right, they'll never realize you ever made a choice. But they won't curse you for being rude either!

Written by Laura Wheeler