Web Design Tip: The Importance of Cross Browser Consistency

The phone rang and a near-frantic gentleman asked if R & R Web Design LLC charged extra to make sure that the websites we design can be viewed on multiple browsers. Apparently, this person’s designer was going to charge an additional fee to make certain that his Web site could be viewed on a variety of browsers.

Our answer was an uncompromising yes.

Why is testing a Web site on multiple browsers important?
Not everyone uses the same browser. The W3 Schools, a reputable is a web developers portal, publishes comprehensive Browser Statistic by month that analyzes browser trends. The following statistics were reported for November 2007 on the browsers people are using to surf the Internet:

• Internet Explorer 7: 21.0%
  
• Internet Explorer 6: 33.6%
  
• Internet Explorer 5: 1.6%
  
• Firefox: 36.3%
  
• Mozilla: 1.2%
  
• Safari: 1.8%
  
• Opera: 1.8%
  

If a website is designed and tested in only one browser, for example, Internet Explorer 7 only, it may not be viewable in Firefox. The testing of a website is on multiple browsers is a fundamental step in the design process and is imperative. Test, test and test again for cross browser consistency.

R & R Web Design LLC is a Chicago Web Design area company offering custom web design, webmaster services and natural search engine optimization.