Standards-Compliant Browsers
So, what exactly does this mean?
Web standards are set by a community of Web users and developers. Contrary to what some believe, Web standards are NOT set by major corporations.
The idea behind using Web standards, is so that no matter what kind of equipment or software you use, the end result is that the Web page looks and works the same on everything.
Using non standards-compliant or proprietary coding language, means that certain sites are usually designed to work "best" with specific software ... and not with others. On the other hand, sites designed using Web standards, may not always function correctly with non standards-compliant software.
In order to solve the "problem" (use of non compliant browsers), Web developers have had to come up with a clever mix of standard and non standard coding to make their sites look right (or as best they could) using all types of software.
Below are a two screen shots, so you can see what happens in standards-compliant and non standards-compliant browsers. You can also match the screen shots to what you're seeing, to determine what you're using.
The graphic below is a screen shot from a standards-compliant browser.
The graphic below is a screen shot from a non standards-compliant browser.
This site is designed to be standards-compliant, and is displayed correctly in a standards-compliant Web browser (top graphic). If the site doesn't look like the top graphic, then you are probably using a non standards-compliant browser. If so, then switch to a Web standards-compliant browser, such as Firefox, and view the Web the way it's intended to be viewed.
