The day has finally come. And Microsoft figures the day marking the end of Internet Explorer 6 deserves a celebration. IE6, which started finding its way to PCs way back in 2001, saw its usage drop significantly and now, even Microsoft admits the time has come to put it to rest.
“Time to pop open the champagne because, based on the latest data from Net Applications, IE6 usage in the US has now officially dropped below 1%!” the Windows Team Blog said. “IE6 has been the punch line of browser jokes for a while, and we’ve been as eager as anyone to see it go away.”
The Rise and Fall of Internet Explorer 6
Internet Explorer 6 was released in August 2001, and it quickly became the dominant web browser, largely due to its bundling with Windows XP. At its peak, IE6 held a market share of over 90%. However, as the internet evolved, IE6 began to show its age. It lacked support for many modern web standards, which made it increasingly difficult for web developers to create websites that worked well across all browsers.
Security was another major issue. IE6 was notorious for its vulnerabilities, which made it a frequent target for hackers. Over time, these security flaws, combined with its lack of modern features, led to a decline in its usage. Newer browsers like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and later versions of Internet Explorer offered better performance, security, and support for modern web standards.
Global Impact and Legacy
Both in the US and abroad, IE6 is being used by only 7.7%, a significant drop that may have been the final blow to the once popular browser. This decline is not just a US phenomenon; globally, the usage of IE6 has plummeted. In countries like China, where IE6 held on longer due to various factors including corporate environments and older hardware, the usage has also seen a significant drop.
The decline of IE6 has had a positive impact on the web development community. Developers no longer need to spend extra time and resources ensuring compatibility with an outdated browser. This has allowed for more innovation and the adoption of new technologies like HTML5 and CSS3, which were not fully supported by IE6.
Microsoft itself has been proactive in encouraging users to upgrade to newer versions of Internet Explorer or switch to their new browser, Microsoft Edge. They even launched a website called “IE6 Countdown” to track the global decline of IE6 usage and to promote the benefits of upgrading to a modern browser.
Examples of the impact of IE6’s decline can be seen in various sectors. For instance, e-commerce websites have reported fewer issues related to browser compatibility, leading to a smoother shopping experience for users. Educational platforms have also benefited, as they can now implement more interactive and engaging content without worrying about IE6 compatibility.
Via: timesofindia
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