Should You Prefix Flexbox Code or Politely Request a Browser Upgrade?

Browser Upgrade Request without Prefixing

For websites leveraging the power of CSS flexbox, browser compatibility becomes a crucial consideration. While most modern browsers seamlessly support flexbox, legacy browsers like Safari 8 and IE 10 require the use of vendor prefixes. With only a small percentage of users still accessing websites using these older browsers, developers may question the necessity of prefixing their code to accommodate outdated technology.

Instead of using prefixes, an alternative approach is to politely request visitors to upgrade their browsers. This ensures that the vast majority of users experience the website as intended, preserving code simplicity and efficiency.

Targeting Older Browsers for Upgrade Request

To effectively target older browsers and display a tailored message, there are various methods available. One such method is the judicious use of conditional comments. Conditional comments are specific to Internet Explorer, enabling developers to target specific IE versions. However, this approach falls short for browsers like Safari and Opera.

CSS-Only Solution

A more comprehensive solution, encompassing multiple browsers, is to employ a CSS-only approach. This relies on the @supports rule, which allows for the conditional application of CSS properties based on browser capabilities. By leveraging this rule, developers can tailor CSS to target specific browser versions.

Sample Code

The following code demonstrates how to target older browsers without using prefixes:

.browserupgrade { display: block; }

/* IE 11 */
_:-ms-fullscreen, :root .browserupgrade { display: none; }

/* Opera Mini 8 */
:-o-prefocus, .browserupgrade { display: none; }

/* all modern browsers */
@supports (display: flex) { .browserupgrade { display: none; }}

HTML

<div class="browserupgrade">
    <p>You are using an outdated browser. Please <a href="http://browsehappy.com/">
       upgrade your browser</a> to improve your experience.</p>
</div>

Additional Considerations

For situations where additional user interaction is warranted, a JavaScript or jQuery script can be employed to automatically redirect users to a designated URL after a predetermined delay. This ensures that visitors using outdated browsers are gently guided towards a compatible browsing experience.

The above is the detailed content of Should You Prefix Flexbox Code or Politely Request a Browser Upgrade?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!