Should different countries and projects define a different suite of A-grade browsers?
A globally consistent approach advances our goal of maximum availability and accessibility. Even if data indicate a particular distribution of browser usage in a particular country, welcoming users from anywhere on the globe is optimal. This is a best practice and recommendation, but not a mandate. Further, the reduction of visual and functional “cliffs” between sites and products can encourage user exploration. The same concept applies to project-specific determinations. Question: “Why is the chart updated quarterly?” A key benefit of GBS is the sanity it can bring to QA and development processes. If the A-grade membership shifts too quickly, these benefits disappear. Quarterly updates balance responsiveness to market conditions with a reduction in development environment volatility. Question: “What about mobile devices?” While mobile and living room devices can benefit from a GBS approach, this article and chart address desktop browsers only.
