The two most popular browsers are, and have been for quite some time, Netscape Navigator (newer versions are called Communicator) and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Up until a few months ago, Netscape had the clear lead in the market. It was the first to embrace Java and Javascript in it's version 2.0. In fact, up until the release of Internet Explorer 4.0, it had nearly a 90% market share! However, with cooler features and better Java and Javascript support than earlier versions, combined with the fact that unlike Netscape's browser it's free, have given Internet Explorer (IE) a jump on the market share, about 40% at the time of this writing.
Which browser is better for javascript?
If you discount Internet Explorer 4.0, with a few exceptions(Communicator 4.0 for Macintosh 68k doesn't support Java) Netscape is clear ahead. However, Explorer 4.0 uses an equal version of javascript as Communicator 4.0, so they are almost equal. Although I have found that Explorer preforms very well on my Win95 PC, it crashes like a drunk driver on my Mac. I have gotten reports of it crashing often on other platforms too. I recommend using IE4.0 for your Win95PC and Netscape Communicator 4.x or Navigator 3.x for any other OS.
What version of javascript should I use?
I suggest gearing your scripts toward Navigator 3.0. Communicator 4.x and IE 4.0 have a later version, but they're not every browser out there, and the new javascript features in them are just flashy junk that you don't want to use. Netscape 2.x and IE 3.x have totally inferior javascript, plus it's getting very rare that you see one of them now. For example, you can't do onmouseover image swaps with them. That's why Netscape 3.0's javascript capabilities are the most universal.
Has Microsoft Polluted Javascript as well as Java in it's Internet Explorer 4.0?
You all know about the Sun-Microsoft suit. Microsoft has altered java in it's latest browser, IE4.0 so that java will only work on Win95. Microsoft has quite a foothold on java with IE and Microsoft J++ programming tool. Sun is suing because that violated an earlier contract. But has Microsoft polluted javascript as well as Java?
Well, to find the answer to this, I downloaded both the Mac and Win95 versions of IE4.0 and crash tested them with several complicated javascripts which I knew to work on Netscape. Although the Mac version crashed once or twice on scripts, I believe IE4.0 works up to par with Netscape 4.0's javascript capabilities. That's right, you can't get on Microsoft's case for this one. You people are vultures.
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