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penetration of javascript? critical differences between major browsers?

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Aug 02.2004

hi:

i just downloaded some javascript documentation…for 1.3, 1.4, 1.5. Does anyone know how many folks have each version? I have seen stats that say 94% of all browsers have javascript 1.2, and i was wondering about these more up-to-date versions.

also, what are the major differences between browsers? for instance, what javascript version does internet explorer support? i have seen other tiny differences too….like if you’re showing/hiding items on your page, in one browser you use display:none in others its display:null (or something like that).

any resources or advice would be much appreciated.

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@CharlesAug 02.2004 — Because some users with disabilities cannot use browsers with JavaScript, it's important to always make sure that your page works as well with as without JavaScript. Do that and you won't have to worry about it.

But if you want to maximize the portability of your scripts, then follow the specs. Netscape is a good source for the core features and the W3C is the source for the DOM (http://www.w3.org/DOM/DOMTR)).

A couple of notes about the W3C DOM. Element.innerHTML and Element.innerText are both Microsoft extensions of the DOM that are widely, though not necessarily universally, supported. In the W3C DOM level 1 you cannot play directly with styles; you have to change the "className". Level 2 allows direct monkeying, but it is, perhaps, best to not do this.
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@sneakyimpauthorAug 02.2004 — thanks for your help.

given that internet explorer has about 70-80% market share, i think it will be critical to support it. given that microsoft has been completely evil in their behavior regarding javascript, i expect that their version has differences. i was hoping to find these differences and program browser sniffing so i could work both for DOM and for IE. does mozilla follow dom? how about opera? safari?

also, this page absolutely must have some kind of scripting. it's not imperative that EVERYONE be able to see it. i'm perfectly willing to say that 'You must have javascript 1.x to view this page'

i guess i was hoping for a more tangible assesment of the browser implementation differences and support for particular properties/methods, etc.
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@CharlesAug 03.2004 — Be careful, in some places and in some instances making a JavaScript dependent site is illegal. If, say, you are in the USA and you are conducting commerce with your site or if this is something that will be used by employees of a company that employs 15 or more people then the Americans with Disabilities Act applies.

MSIE's control of the market is more like 95%, but many of those people disable scripting, some to protect themselves from some virus, the rest for other reasons.

MSIE supports its own extensions and the W3C DOM. There is no need to use the MSIE extensions. Just follow the rules.
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@sneakyimpauthorAug 03.2004 — no kidding?? go aclu! that's good to know i guess.
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