Browsers are funny. They perform the same function but things don’t always look the same on Apple’s Safari, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Mozilla’s FireFox, Google’s Chrome, or other browsers. Just what function does a browser perform? Well according to Wikipedia,

A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content. Hyperlinks present in resources enable users to easily navigate their browsers to related resources.

OK, now that we have the definition, why do browsers differ??? The ultimate question for Internet users! Well, until recently web programmers worked with computer language such as HTML code that was not standardized. Fortunately, the international W3C or World Wide Web Consortium started working at standardization of web programming and applications including but not limited to, HTM technologies,  HTML, XHTML, CSS, and other web languages to improve user viewing efficiency so, eventually, all web pages are speaking and programmed in the same language with the same standards and ultimately ensuring the long-term growth of the Web. (WOW…what a mouth full!)

This standardization will continue to improve web page programming, web page viewing, and browser compatibility, thus making everyone’s job just a little bit easier. It is frustrating to build a web page and have it look completely different on each browser or have elements missing. The time and energy it takes to make adjustments can be eliminate with standardization.  At this point, it’s not mandatory, but what will happen as a syntax or specific codes are archived, web pages not in compliance with the W3C standards will be viewed differently on newer versions of web browsers. Therefore, it behooves everyone to be on the same page – program developers, designers, applications engineers, and all technologies associated with the WWW.

With the coming of Web 3.0 and further improvements within our current Web 2.0 technologies, we can anticipate a little more continuity and a little less fragmenting between the powers who drive the Internet, which will ease the transition, improve and optimize our current browsers, and move us graciously into the next generation of the World Wide Web.

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