Internet Explorer Online Testing: A Simple Guide

Even though it’s an older browser, many companies still use Internet Explorer (IE) to run important internal software. This creates a big challenge for developers: how do you make sure a modern website works on an old browser?

This guide explains why IE is still used and offers simple strategies to make your website compatible with it using online tools.

Why Is Internet Explorer Still Used?

Despite being replaced by Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer is still active in many businesses. The main reason is legacy systems. Many companies built critical software—like finance or inventory programs—specifically for IE years ago. Updating this software is often too expensive and time-consuming.

For these companies, ensuring their old IE-based applications still work is a top priority.

Key Features of Internet Explorer

To understand how to test for IE, it helps to know its key features:

  • Compatibility View: This mode makes IE act like an even older version of itself. This can force an old website to display correctly.

  • Security Settings: IE has settings like the SmartScreen Filter to block dangerous websites and ActiveX controls for running old web applications (which can also be a security risk).

  • InPrivate Browsing: This is IE’s version of “incognito mode,” which doesn’t save your history or cookies.

  • Developer Tools: Basic tools for developers to debug problems on a web page.

Why You Must Support Legacy Browsers

There are several practical reasons to support old browsers like IE:

  • You Have No Choice: If your company’s key software only runs on IE, you must support it.

  • Cost: Rewriting old software is extremely expensive.

  • User Satisfaction: Forcing employees to learn a new system on a new browser hurts productivity and causes frustration.

  • Security: Using an online IE testing service can be more secure than running the old, vulnerable browser directly on a computer.

The Best Solution: Use Internet Explorer Online

The easiest and safest way to test for IE is to use it online through a cloud service. This is better than trying to install old, unsafe versions of IE on your modern computer.

Benefits of Online IE Testing:

  • No Old Hardware Needed: You don’t need to keep old computers running just for one browser.

  • More Secure: Cloud services handle security updates, reducing risk.

  • Access Anywhere: Users can access the IE-based application from any modern device.

  • Easy for Testing: Developers can test their websites on many different IE versions instantly.

A great platform for this is LambdaTest. It’s a cloud service that lets you test your website on thousands of browser versions, including many for Internet Explorer. You can test manually or automate your tests, all without installing anything on your own machine.

Simple Strategies for IE Compatibility

If you need to make a website work with IE, here are 8 key strategies:

  1. Use Compatibility Mode: Test your site with IE’s “Compatibility View” turned on. This often fixes basic display issues.

  2. Avoid Modern Code: Don’t use the latest HTML5 and CSS3 features. IE doesn’t understand them. Use simpler, older code that IE recognizes.

  3. Use Polyfills: A “polyfill” is a piece of code that teaches an old browser new tricks. It can make IE understand modern JavaScript features.

  4. Test on Real IE: Use an online platform like LambdaTest to see exactly how your site looks and works on real IE versions. Don’t just guess.

  5. Check Features: Use tools to detect if a user’s browser supports a feature before trying to use it. If not, provide a simpler alternative.

  6. Simplify Your Layout: Avoid complex CSS layouts. Use simpler designs that IE can handle.

  7. Consider Server-Side Rendering (SSR): Do more work on your server so the browser has less to do. This is more reliable for old browsers like IE.

  8. Use jQuery: This older JavaScript library is built to work smoothly with browsers like IE and can solve many common problems.

Conclusion

Supporting Internet Explorer is a reality for many businesses with legacy systems. The best approach is to use online testing services like LambdaTest. This allows you to check compatibility safely and efficiently.

By using the simple strategies above, you can ensure your web applications work for every user, even those on older browsers, without slowing down your development process.