According to StatCounter, Firefox 3.5 is now the world's most popular web browser, with a global market share of 22%.

Source: StatCounter Global Stats - Browser Version Market Share

Internet Explorer 7 started out 2009 with 41%, but has since dropped to 21%, getting edged out by its open source competitor.

So what does this change for designers and developers?

Well...nothing

IE6 Just Won't Die

To the dismay of just about every CSS developer, IE6 (a browser that launched in 2001), is still hanging on with a market share of 14%. This wouldn't be such a bad thing, were it not for the fact that IE6 doesn't abide by some of the most common web standards, such as transparent PNG Images and other CSS rules (see the box model bug).

Despite continuing campaigns to end the browser once and for all (including ie6nomore.com, ie6update.com, and others), it still remains an active part of the internet population, and a thorn in the side of CSS developers.

Some would argue that most of this IE6 retention comes from the corporate world, where users aren't allowed to install new applications or upgrade existing ones. I have seen lots of web architects defending the continued use of IE6 because they are running applications that rely on integration with SharePoint or some other Microsoft system.

Like these developers, I come from the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" school of thought, but isn't there a happy medium here?

Can't large corporations continue use of IE6, but also install a more standards compliant browser like Safari?

Can YOU Pass The Acid Test?

Over the last few years, web standards have become an important player in the battle for browser dominance. A set of web-based compliance tests known as the Acid Tests have been developed to assist software developers in creating standards compliant browsers.

Acid3, the latest version of the test, expands on the mainly CSS-based Acid2 to include tests for HTML5 and other JavaScript functionality that will play a big role in the next generation of web applications.

Interestingly enough, the only browser that completely passes the test is Safari, which only holds a 3% market share. Firefox 3.5 scores a commendable (but still "failing") 93/100, while Internet Explorer 9.0 scored a 32/100. This is to be expected, given the fact the tests were purposefully written so that every browser failed initially, and they are based on draft W3C standards that are not yet "official".

The Future Is Now

As we head into 2010, we will see the next generation of browsers work towards standards compliance, which will help designers and developers focus on the user experience instead of messing around with CSS hacks for a certain browser version.

I understand that most users could care less about standards-compliance, but whether they know it or not, their choice of browser is helping to nudge other companies (read Microsoft) towards standards compliance and a consistent web experience for everyone.

Now, if only we could get rid of IE6....

Photo credit: Preston Kemp.