The landscape of web development has evolved significantly over the years, bringing about new technologies, faster browsers, and improved user experiences. Among the major shifts in this landscape is the decline of Internet Explorer (IE), which has played a significant role in the history of the internet. However, as we step into 2025, the question arises: should you still support Internet Explorer in your web projects? Let’s dive into the factors that can help you make this decision.
The Official End of Internet Explorer
Microsoft officially retired Internet Explorer 11 on June 15, 2022, transitioning users to Microsoft Edge. The company announced that IE would no longer receive updates, including security patches, and encouraged organizations and users to adopt modern browsers. Should You Support Internet Explorer in 2025 This marks a critical juncture for web developers as continued support for a deprecated browser poses challenges and raises questions about priorities.
Challenges of Supporting Internet Explorer
1. Security Vulnerabilities
Since IE no longer receives security updates, it is increasingly susceptible to vulnerabilities. Supporting IE in 2025 could expose your users and infrastructure to potential risks. For businesses handling sensitive data, this is a critical concern.
2. Development Costs
Developing and testing websites or applications for Internet Explorer requires extra effort due to its outdated standards and unique quirks. This can significantly increase development time and costs, detracting resources from enhancing features for modern browsers.
3. Poor User Experience
Internet Explorer lacks support for many modern web technologies such as CSS Grid, modern JavaScript features, and progressive web apps (PWAs). Users on IE often experience slower load times, broken layouts, or missing functionality, leading to frustration.
4. Decreasing Usage Share
The usage of Internet Explorer has steadily declined over the years. As of 2025, IE’s market share is negligible, with the majority of users transitioning to modern browsers like Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. Supporting a browser with such a small audience often does not justify the investment.
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Reasons Some Still Consider Supporting Internet Explorer
Despite its obsolescence, there are a few scenarios where organizations might consider continuing support for IE in 2025:
1. Legacy Systems
Many enterprises still rely on internal applications built specifically for Internet Explorer. These applications might use proprietary ActiveX controls or outdated frameworks that do not function properly in modern browsers.
2. Compliance Requirements
Certain industries, particularly in government or finance, may have strict compliance requirements mandating support for legacy systems, including IE.
3. Target Audience Demographics
If your audience includes users who are still reliant on older hardware and software, such as in developing regions, you may need to consider supporting IE to cater to their needs.
Alternatives to Supporting Internet Explorer
If supporting IE is no longer viable, here are some strategies to manage the transition effectively:
1. Encourage Users to Upgrade
Provide clear messaging on your website or application to encourage users to switch to modern browsers. Tools like browser upgrade banners can help guide users toward a better browsing experience.
2. Use Microsoft Edge’s IE Mode
Microsoft Edge includes an “IE mode” feature that allows users to access legacy applications that depend on Internet Explorer. This can serve as a middle ground for organizations transitioning away from IE.
3. Implement Graceful Degradation
Design your website or application to deliver a basic, functional experience for outdated browsers without full support for advanced features. This approach minimizes the impact on users still using IE.
4. Focus on Progressive Enhancement
Prioritize modern web technologies and enhance features for users with capable browsers while ensuring baseline functionality for all users. This strategy aligns with future-proofing your development efforts.
The Case for Dropping IE Support
1. Streamlining Development
Dropping support for Internet Explorer can significantly simplify development processes, enabling teams to focus on leveraging modern web standards and delivering a richer user experience.
2. Better Performance and Accessibility
Modern browsers offer superior performance and better tools for building accessible web applications. By moving away from IE, you ensure your website is optimized for a broader audience.
3. Alignment with Industry Standards
The web development community has largely moved on from supporting IE, Should You Support Internet Explorer in 2025 making it easier to find tools, libraries, and frameworks that prioritize modern browsers.
4. Cost Savings
By discontinuing support for IE, organizations can save on the costs associated with testing and maintaining compatibility for a nearly obsolete browser.
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Conclusion
In 2025, supporting Internet Explorer is largely impractical and unnecessary for most organizations. With Microsoft officially retiring the browser, its dwindling user base, and the availability of modern alternatives, the case for dropping IE support is compelling. However, for businesses bound by legacy dependencies or compliance requirements, strategies like leveraging Microsoft Edge’s IE mode or implementing graceful degradation can provide viable solutions.
Ultimately, the decision to support Internet Explorer should be based on your audience’s needs, your organization’s goals, and the resources available. For most developers and businesses, the focus should now be on adopting and embracing modern web technologies to deliver the best possible experience for users in an ever-evolving digital landscape.