When did Explorer go back to RWD?
Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser has had a long and complex history with responsive web design (RWD). After initially resisting the shift towards mobile-friendly design, Explorer eventually embraced RWD in the mid-2010s.
The Rise of Responsive Web Design
Responsive web design, which allows websites to adapt their layout and content to different screen sizes, gained widespread adoption in the early 2010s as mobile internet usage surged. Many major websites and web applications transitioned to RWD during this period to provide a better user experience on smartphones and tablets.
Internet Explorer's Initial Resistance
However, Microsoft's Internet Explorer lagged behind in adopting responsive design principles. Earlier versions of Explorer had limited support for the CSS techniques that enable RWD, making it difficult for web developers to create mobile-friendly sites that worked well across all browsers. This led to frustration among the web development community, as they had to create separate mobile-specific versions of their sites to ensure compatibility with Explorer.
Explorer's Shift to Responsive Design
It wasn't until the release of Internet Explorer 11 in 2013 that Microsoft's browser began to fully embrace responsive web design. Explorer 11 introduced improved support for the CSS3 media queries and other RWD-enabling technologies, allowing web pages to dynamically adjust their layout and content based on the user's device and screen size. This marked a significant shift in Explorer's approach to mobile web design.
The Impact of Explorer's RWD Support
The increased RWD support in Internet Explorer 11 and later versions made it easier for web developers to create responsive, mobile-friendly websites that worked consistently across all major browsers. This helped drive the widespread adoption of responsive design, as web teams no longer had to maintain separate mobile-specific versions of their sites to ensure compatibility with Explorer.
Overall, while Internet Explorer was initially resistant to the rise of responsive web design, the browser eventually caught up and embraced RWD in the mid-2010s, helping to solidify its place as a mainstream web development technology.
