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ChromeFrame

Four HTML5 Solutions for Internet Explorer

Historically, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer has acknowledged web standards with a shrug; even the extent of IE9’s HTML5 support remains in question. If you want to push ahead into HTML5 while continuing to support IE, there are two options: promote an entire engine replacement for IE, or shim it with JavaScript.

ChromeFrame is a plugin from Google for Internet Explorer that replaces IE’s rendering engine, allowing it to understand HTML5, CSS3, while making it faster and more secure. It’s a very good solution, although pragmatically you cannot force users to install a plugin (although you might be able to fool them into doing so).

There are several JavaScript libraries that can be used to make IE play well with HTML5:

  • modernizerModernizer (now in version 2) has a nice modular approach: like JQueryUI, you can choose what features you would like to have supported. The à la carte menu includes elements from , selectors and properties (including transforms and transitions) and associated technologies such as Geolocation, and WebGL.

  • head.jsHeadjs loads scripts and organizes scripts, and updates HTML5 and CSS3 support for IE.

  • HTML5Boilerplate is an "all in one" solution with excellent credentials. It is used as a suite for creating HTML5 pages correctly from scratch, including support for mobile devices and CSS3.

Thanks Dudley. I knew about Modernizer, but nod Headjs and eCCStender. Chrome Frame is an interesting option, though I don't think it's all that practical. I do know a few corporations who have to stay on IE6 that have installed it, but that's about it.

posted by dstephenson

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by JoelB in Goodbye, JQuery Validation: HTML5 Form Errors With CSS3

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