Cross-Browser Compatibility Why Your Website Looks Different on Every Browser

Nowadays, users have a choice of a wide range of web browsers. These include Google Chrome, Safаri, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and others. Each browser has its own distinct features. Among them is the display of websites. This might cause changes in the appearance and functioning of the same website across different platforms. This phenomena is referred to as cross-browser compatibility.

Image credit: Freepik

Getting the Basics Right

Cross-browser compatibility refers to a website’s ability to function and display properly. We may see this regardless of browser. This ensures a convenient user experience and consistent at the same time. However, it can be difficult to achieve. The reason for this lies in various factors.

Why does your website look different in various browsers?

Support for standards

Web standards exist. However, not all browsers support them equally. Some new features may work in one browser but not in another. Especially in older versions. We are talking about HTML5 or CSS3 features.

Different display engines

Each browser uses its own engine to process HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. Chrome and Edge use Blink. Safari uses WebKit. Firefox uses Gecko. These engines can interpret the code differently. This leads to differences in display.

Custom browser styles

Browsers have their own standard styles for elements. Without explicitly overriding these styles in CSS, they may look different in different browsers.

User settings

Users can change their browser settings. This action affects how a website is displayed.

Choosing the Best Browser for Mac

Mac users have a wide variety of web browsers to choose from. Safari is the standard one for MacOS. But there are other alternatives. They may offer improved performance or additional features. So, which one can be characterized as the best web browser for Mac? Nothing is as clear. After all, Mozilla Firefox prioritizes user privacy. And also, security. At the same time, Google Chrome is well-known for its fast performance. And also, extensive extension library. Vivaldi may be a worthwhile choice for individuals looking for a browser with considerable customization capabilities. So, before deciding between multiple Mac web browsers, educate yourself with their features.

Why is Cross-Browser Compatibility Important?

There are several significant advantages if you want to achieve cross-browser compatibility. They are as follows.

Improved user experience

A consistent look and functionality increase user satisfaction. It reduces the likelihood of them abandoning the site.

Expanding the audience

Compatibility ensures that your site is accessible to the maximum number of users.

Improving SEO

Compatibility issues can negatively affect search engine rankings. Search engines consider the usability of a website.

Tips for Cross-Browser Compatibility

Test on real devices

This will help identify and fix compatibility issues.

Use standardized code

This increases the likelihood that your site will display correctly in different browsers.

Implement progressive improvements

Create basic functionality and add additional features for browsers that support them.

Use CSS grids or normalization

This helps to eliminate differences in standard styles between different browsers.

Avoid outdated and experimental features

If such features are necessary, provide alternative solutions for browsers that don’t support them.

Tools for cross-browser compatibility test

Image credit: Freepik

BrowserStack

Allows you to test your website on real devices and browsers in the cloud.

Google Chrome DevTools

A built-in developer tool. It helps you test and fix display errors in the Chrome browser.

Mozilla Firefox Developer Tools

An alternative set of tools for debugging and testing in Firefox.

LambdaTest

Allows you to check cross-browser compatibility on different OS and browser versions.

CrossBrowserTesting

Offers live testing, screenshots to analyze differences in website display, and automated scripts.

Challenges in Ensuring Cross-Browser Compatibility. How to Avoid Browser Compatibility Issues

Challenges

• Certain CSS properties can be interpreted differently by various browsers. This leads to differences in layout and styles.
• JavaScript-based functionality may work in one browser and not in another. This is due to different implementations.
• Not all browsers support the same audio and video formats. This leads to problems with content playback.

How to avoid browser compatibility issues

Support responsive design to ensure correct display on all devices.

Use:

• flexible layouts (flexbox, grid), 
• media queries,
• relative units of measurement (em, rem, %)

Optimize performance for fast website loading in any browser:

• Use CSS and JavaScript minimization,
• Optimize images,
• Use caching.

Use semantic HTML

The correct HTML structure allows the following. Browsers and search engines can better read the page.

Using CSS polyfills and prefixes, you can ensure the next. Your website operates correctly not only in the most recent browser versions but also in older ones.

Ensure that your website is good for users with disabilities. To do this, use ARIA attributes, correct headings, and signatures.

Summary

Cross-browser development and cross-browser compatibility is an essential component of modern web development. It directly affects website performance and user experience. Differences in the display of websites on different browsers can occur for various reasons. Rendering engines. Support for standards. CSS and JavaScript features. At the same time, ensuring cross-browser compatibility allows you to broaden your audience, improve user experience, and raise SEO results. This article’s advice should be helpful.