Difference between Firefox and IE for JavaScript

JavaScript is the language that enables multiple functionalities in WebPages and it differs from one browser to the other in the way it is implemented. Firefox and Internet Explorer are two browsers that are very popular nowadays and are competing with each other to provide a faster, more secure and enjoyable experience for Web Surfers, by providing different advantages. The differences in JavaScript coding are responsible for the running style of these browsers and their compatibility with other applications. We will discuss a few aspects from these to let you know what exactly separates Firefox and Internet Explorer when it comes to Java Scripting.

• Settings

Firstly, Firefox has an advanced window for JavaScript Settings through which the permissions for JavaScript can be configured. Mozilla Firefox has more security locks as compared to IE (supported by JavaScript).

• Features

The latest IE version in use (IE 8 ) boasts of better comprehensive developer tools that are built-in like HTML, CSS and tools for JavaScript editing and JavaScript profiling. But for other browsers such as Firefox, these tools need to be downloaded separately.
While Internet Explorer supports only the common standards used by websites; Firefox supports emerging standards like HTML5 and CSS3 as well.

• Date Function

According to the ECMAScript specification followed by JavaScript, the method of getFullYear() (earlier getYear) is not compliant with Y2K. In Internet Explorer, this was changed to getFullYear() while Firefox retained the older method.

• Debugging

Since Firefox came after IE, so it had solutions for many problems that plagued the former IE versions. One of these is the debugging option with Firefox browser, which solves many problems related to IE applications by an advanced console that even lets you evaluate the JavaScript. The coding for this is easily available on the internet.

• Generating HTML

JavaScript can easily generate HTML from a string using the document.write function. Now if the document is in the SR mode (strict rendering), then parsing of the script> tag takes place within the string and the Firefox's parser will keep parsing till the closing tag is found for the <script> tag. This happens as the parser in the strict mode is not familiar with JavaScript but in quirks mod, the parser is aware of this. In Internet Explorer, none of this happens because it stays in quirks mode at all times due to its non-supporting feature for true XHTML.

• Feature Differences in Current Versions

IE version 8.0 has remarkable improvements and support for JavaScript but it still scores only 20 out of 100 on the Acid3 test. Accelerators and WebSlices are supported for navigation and subscription features. Some other notable features include InPrivate privacy and filter for SmartScreen phishing.

Version 3.6

• Improved performance for JavaScript engine TraceMonkey
• Provides support for:
  • -moz-background-size
  • CSS property
  • CSS Gradients
• Notifies about out-of-date plugins

What Lies Ahead Internet Explorer 9 includes

• Faster JavaScript
• Enhanced support for
  • CSS 3selectors
  • Border-radius CSS3 property
• Embedded ICCv2/v4color profiles

Firefox 4.0 includes

• New Account Manager
• Improved notification function
• Enhanced application tabs
• Revamped extension manager
• Support new Javasript engine called JagerMonkey
• Better HTML and CSS3 support

Although JavaScript forms the base for both browsers but different coding makes one different from the other. The newer versions for Firefox and Internet explorer are to release later in this year and will pitch several features against each other, in a bid to compete for the user's attention. Watch this space for further information, which we will update soon.