Should we experiment with CSS for IE: To hack or not to hack?

I am excited about trying out some eye-catching experimental CSS features like border-radius (rounded corners) and gradients to enhance the look of my webpage. However, it's disappointing that Internet Explorer does not yet support these features. Although border-radius is expected to be available in IE9, gradients are still uncertain.

Should I just ignore Internet Explorer since most of my users will be using Firefox or Chrome? Or should I resort to using images as a workaround for IE to maintain consistency in presentation? Is it worth the trouble, considering the potential complications and conflicts with styling in other browsers?

So, the dilemma remains: to hack or not to hack?

cssinternet-explorer

Answer №1

While the answer to this question may vary, I believe it is best not to resort to hacking. CSS3 is designed to maintain backwards compatibility, enabling graceful degradation in unsupported browsers. In my opinion, this is the way it should be. If you find yourself needing to hack CSS3, perhaps consider using traditional CSS2 techniques such as javascript for rounded corners or image manipulation to achieve the desired effect without resorting to hacks.

Answer №2

Let's clear up a terminology misconception: resorting to images instead of CSS3 features in IE isn't really considered hacking. Any visual effect that CSS doesn't directly support will require the use of images.

Now, onto addressing your query:

  • If a minimal amount of your audience uses IE, you may choose to disregard it. Determining what qualifies as a "minimal amount" is ultimately up to you or the site owners.

  • If not:

    • If the border-radius effects aren't crucial to the site's branding, you might opt to let IE disregard them and display square corners instead. Most users don't view the web using two browsers at once, and as long as the basic functionalities are intact, minor visual discrepancies in IE 6 are generally overlooked.

    • If the effects are integral to the site's branding or if the client insists on consistent appearance across all browsers, you'll need to replicate the look in IE 6. Here are your options:

      • Implement border-radius and utilize conditional comments to incorporate a stylesheet for IE 8 and earlier versions, containing code to simulate the features.

      • Forego border-radius altogether and utilize code that functions across all browsers, including IE. This approach eliminates the need to manage two sets of code but may impact performance as all browsers will need to download the images used specifically for IE.

Answer №3

In the world of web development, the choice between utilizing clever techniques and completely ignoring them is never clear cut. It's surprising that no one has brought up the life-saving practice of 'Conditional Comments' when discussing backward compatibility. This method, although not considered a hack by some, is truly brilliant.

Conditional Comments not only address troublesome bugs in Internet Explorer, but they also open up possibilities for alternative approaches to achieving certain effects. For example, using image gradients with 'repeat-y' instead of relying on CSS3 gradients, or resorting to tiled semi-transparent pngs for older versions of IE like 7 and 8. With this tool at your disposal, Internet Explorer doesn't have to be the sole obstacle preventing you from exploring the full potential of CSS3.

Answer №4

If you're looking to avoid using images, IE hacks, or a separate stylesheet, consider checking out CSS3Pie: . While it may not be perfect for handling gradients and shadows, it does do a good job with rounded corners. There are other IE behaviors available, but CSS3Pie is currently seeing the most active development.

Answer №5

There are different levels of hacks, some of which exploit browser vulnerabilities like the descendant selector hack in IE. These hacks often become ineffective when browsers are updated.

Using images to achieve drop shadows or gradients is not considered a hack in my opinion. While it may not align with a purely semantic approach, sometimes using images is necessary to achieve the desired visual effects on a wide range of browsers, especially Internet Explorer.

If you view rounded borders and gradients as mere aesthetic enhancements, you might not be concerned about compatibility with IE. However, if you believe these design elements significantly enhance the user experience and don't want to exclude the majority of your users, then incorporating image-based solutions is a valid choice.

It's important to consider your audience to determine whether IE users form a significant portion of your user base.

Answer №6

The importance of these features to the overall look and feel of the site is a crucial factor to consider. It also boils down to how much these features will impact the size of your markup and CSS. Depending on how these effects need to be integrated into the design, it may involve a lot of work.

Typically, I lean towards progressive enhancement in this scenario. The goal is to come up with something that fits well without necessarily replicating the composite art exactly. Ultimately, this decision is not one that a developer can make alone, unless they are also the designer.

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