Browser Support
It is not practical to test every combination of browser, version and OS, as there are so many. Instead, we follow standard industry practice of testing the latest range of browsers, plus typically those, which make up the majority of our traffic.
Modern browser testing
In modern web design, we have accepted that the user will access our products using a plethora of devices and user-agents. In such a perspective, we also accept that the user experience will be different based on the user’s context.
While some designers strive for cross-browser pixel perfection, proponents of fluid design do not think that layouts have to look identical across all platforms and screen resolutions.
Supported Browsers
We divide browsers into three categories: A-grade, B-grade, and C-grade browsers.
- A-grade: These browsers should be actively tested on. Minor visual differences may occur, but that is ok. Reported bugs will be considered fixed.
- B-grade: Though not actively tested on, these browsers should work fine, and bugs will be considered fixed when reported. Visual differences may occur, but that is usually ok.
- C-grade: Core functional support only. However, any issues that cause functional issues may be considered fixed, such as an issue that hides or makes it impossible to click a call to action button. Visual differences will most likely occur, but that is usually ok.
“A”-grade browsers
| Browser | Version | Operation System | Device |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Chrome | Latest | Win 10 | Desktop |
| Google Chrome | Latest | Android/Samsung | Mobile |
| Mozilla Firefox | Latest | Win 10 | Desktop |
| MS Edge | Latest | Win 10 | Desktop |
| MS Internet Explorer | 11 | Win 10 | Desktop |
| Safari | Latest | iOS/iPhone/iPad | Mobile |
“B”-grade browsers
| Browser | Version | Operation System | Device |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Chrome | Previous | Win 10 | Desktop |
| Google Chrome | Previous | Android/Samsung | Mobile |
| Mozilla Firefox | Previous | Win | Desktop |
| MS Edge | Previous | Win 10 | Desktop |
| Opera (Blink engine) | Latest | Win | Desktop |
| Safari | Latest | Mac OS | Desktop |
| Safari | Previous | iOS/iPhone/iPad | Mobile |
“C”-grade browsers
| Browser | Version | Operation System | Device |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS Internet Explorer | 10 | Win 7, 8 | Desktop |
| Safari | Previous | Mac OS | Desktop |
| Safari | Previous | iOS/iPhone/iPad | Mobile |
Resources
- Do websites need to look exactly the same in every browser?
- BrowserStack, Live, Web-Based Browser Testing