The Rise and Fall of Browser Dominance: Is Safari the New IE?
In the early 2000s, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE) was the undisputed king of browsers, with a staggering 95% market share. However, as Firefox and Chrome gained popularity, web developers were forced to adapt to a new era of cross-browser compatibility. IE’s reign was marked by frustration, with developers struggling to navigate its unique bugs and slow adoption of new features.
Fast-forward to 2020, and the browser landscape has changed dramatically. Safari, once a niche player, has grown to become a significant force, particularly on mobile devices. But is Safari’s rise a harbinger of a new era of browser dominance, reminiscent of IE’s heyday?
Market Share: A Key Difference
While Safari’s market share is substantial, it’s essential to put things into perspective. On desktop, Chrome remains the clear leader, with around 68% of the market. Safari comes in second, with about 10% of the desktop market. However, its mobile version on iOS and iPadOS gives it a significant advantage, with the majority of iPhone users relying on Safari.
OS Updates: A Ticking Clock
One of the primary issues with IE was its relationship with new Windows versions. Each version of Windows only supported up to a certain version of IE, leaving users stuck on older versions. Safari faces a similar challenge, with its updates tied to OS updates. However, Apple’s free OS updates and aggressive push to get users to upgrade have mitigated this issue.
Features and Bugs: A Mixed Bag
While Safari still lags behind other modern browsers in terms of features, the gap is narrowing. It has caught up on WebRTC and WebP support, and Apple’s commitment to adopting W3C standards is encouraging. However, Safari still has some catching up to do, particularly with advanced features like Web Bluetooth and Web USB.
Extensions: A Step Forward
Safari’s move to support the WebExtensions API, used by Chrome and Firefox, is a significant step forward for extension developers. This shift will make it easier to create cross-browser extensions, reducing the pain points associated with Safari-specific development.
The Verdict: Safari is Not the New IE
While Safari may cause some headaches for developers, it’s unfair to label it the new IE. The browser landscape has changed dramatically since IE’s dominance, and Safari’s impact is significantly less severe. With resources like Can I use and MDN making incompatibilities easy to identify, the challenge of maintaining cross-browser compatibility is more manageable than ever.
In the end, Safari’s rise is a reminder that no browser is perfect, but the industry has come a long way in addressing the issues that plagued IE. As developers, we should be thankful for the progress made and continue to push for a more harmonious browser ecosystem.