Internet Explorer 8

Posted by Barb Mosher Mar 10, 2008

There's a new browser in town - or at least a new version of a browser. Microsoft has opened the Beta evaluation of IE8 to the general public.

This new version is a little different from the older versions. It contains three different display modes to support backwards compatibility with sites and applications developed in older versions.

For sites that were developed in IE5.5 or lower - IE8 has a "quirks" mode. This mode is also in existence in IE6 and IE7 but most people probably didn't realize it. It's for sites built using older technologies so they don't break in newer versions that support new web standards.

The other two modes are "standard" and "super-standard".

Standard supports sites and applications developed or compatible with IE7 standards mode. This mode is an attempt at following web standards - but not that well.

Super Standards mode is the latest mode and is more tightly committed to supporting the web standards that most organizations and developers have been calling for.

Now as a user, people won't know which version they are in. But as a designer of sites and applications, you need to be aware of these modes and how you will design your site. What mode will you use (IE7 standards mode or IE8 super standards mode). Look at both options carefully and then make your selection.

Hopefully we won't wait too long for IE8 to be RTM.