Browser Differences

Java was originally developed by Netscape and Digital to use as a cross platform programming language. Although Netscape was in on the initial stages of development, Internet Explorer can display pages with Javascript as well and is more forgiving of script errors. Pages with Javascript or applets should be carefully tested in both platforms and different versions of these browsers.

Graphics are displayed quite similarly in both browsers. Older versions of Internet Explorer had difficulty rendering certain colors but the later versions ( v.4 and later)do this quite well. Even though both browsers can display images with out much difficulty the placement of these images is still a concern. Netscape has difficulty rendering tables and frames. If you use frames or tables to place graphics or to make images into tables to use portions of that image as a link you must make sure you test these pages to see how they look in both browsers. Images should also be viewed on different monitors to see how they will look when displayed at different resolutions and color depth.

Writing your html so that it can be easily read and understood,along with good comments, makes troubleshooting your code much easier. Explorer seems to be more forgiving of code mistakes and may render the page correctly. Netscape on the other hand is not so forgiving and will not render the pages correctly and in certain errors may not render them at all. Checking code in both browsers is imperative. You can not afford to lose any of your audience or leaving them to wonder exactly what your page meant. Testing in both browsers and different versions of these browsers makes certain that your pages will work well in both platforms.

Each version of a browser includes increasingly advanced features not included in older versions of the same browser. Browser functionality and appearance of displayed information is different between the Windows and Macintosh (Mac still makes 12% of all desktop computers) platforms of the same browser version. For example, on Windows computers, the size of fonts is larger than on Mac computers - for the same font face and size. Some browsers allow the user to set their own font styles, font sizes, and colors which override fonts and colors defined by a web page. Designing for cross platform and cross browser compatibility is very important. You must decide what versions of these browsers you want to support also. You can design for a maximum of three updates or design with a more broad sweep and go back as many as five versions.