The usage of mobile devices is surging day-by-day at a faster pace all around the globe. The sales of smart phones and tablets have been increasing consistently, and fetching a hefty revenue to their companies. Moreover, the mobile devices have acquired the top position now when it comes to browsing the internet and the web.
The web experience of the users is something to count on in the present times. It is important today, and even more important tomorrow due to the increasing number of users. The philosophy of progressive enhancement has ensured that users will have an easy access to your information, regardless of the device, as progressive enhancement focuses on the way you have built your website.
The Philosophy of Progressive Enhancement
There was a concept called graceful degradation way back in the 00’s where it was common to design for the latest and best browsers first. Precisely, it means building for the newest browsers with the newest technologies. Then, the second step followed the analysis of less capable browsers to make sure that the website works with them also. This approach was later questioned as people wanted to make content for all the available browsers no matter what. Their interest, mainly, was to improve the usability of the mobile browsers and address their capability shortfall. The main aim was to make all the browser content accessible for which graceful degradation didn’t allow easily.
Later, a term “progressive enhancement” was introduced by Nick Finck and Steve Champeon for their SXSW 2003 presentation. This approach clearly and more effectively explained the concept for developing websites. This was a bottom-up approach, where a site is developed first so that every browser can access it and get the similar results. Only then you can accomplish the next step of adding features to the website, like animations. This ensures the display of the same content in all the browsers.
Mobile Web Design
The concept of progressive enhancement was introduced to support the mobile browsers. Generally, they are inferior to the desktop browser, and hence it becomes easier to mark surety that they support the content with progressive enhancement rather than supporting graceful degradation.
The below stats can give you a better and a clear picture of the current status of mobile devices, and how the mobile friendly websites can enhance the activities of your business.
Facts and Figures:
We all know that mobile is growing and growing at a real fast pace, and hence these facts might not surprise anyone. Considering these facts, it is important, in the present times, to have a mobile friendly website.
The Relationship between Progressive Enhancement and Responsive Web Design
These two go hand in hand. To put it simply, utilizing progressive enhancement to develop a responsive website result in providing you a mobile friendly website. There are various mobile browsers, which are not capable as desktop browsers because of the scarcity of essential things, like animations. However, the possibility of bringing a responsive website into being is because all the mobile browsers support media queries.
Fabricating a responsive website with the approach of progressive enhancement seems best when it comes to giving assurance about catering mobile browsers for no matter what.
Mobile-First Approach
The mobile-first approach is also great when it comes to the development of mobile friendly websites. This, basically, is an approach that gives priority to the content for mobile devices first so that the users can get an amazing user experience. This philosophy has been built to allow the content to reach several people as content is considered to be the core of progressive enhancement.
Conclusion
So, this is the quick crash course for you about progressive enhancement. This approach affects the productivity and the performance of the team truly, and has a positive effect on the outcome. This is because of the fact that this approach tries to make the things easier for both the user and the developer. This is an exceptional philosophy to be used in all the projects.
Vipin Jain is the Co-Founder and CEO at Konstant Infosolutions and is in charge of marketing, project management, administration and R&D at the company. With his marketing background, Vipin Jain has developed and honed the company’s vision, corporate structure & initiatives and its goals, and brought the company into the current era of success.
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