How sites can tailor to your browser
Q: When visiting certain websites, I get a notification that they don’t support Internet Explorer and that I should install another browser. How do these sites know which browser I am using?
A: Whenever you visit a website, your computer sends specific information to the site that not only includes information about where you are and what internet provider you are using, but also information about your operating system and your browser.
Sites that are designed well have the ability to display the content in a way that is specifically tailored to your browser and your computer as well as locationspecific information so they can better target you with advertisements.
In regards to how a website might be displayed, it is especially noticeable when you are visiting a site with a mobile device. You may have noticed the familiar www.whatever.com replaced with m.whatever.com in your address bar, which indicates that the site has redirected you to the mobile-friendly version of their page.
If you want to see this in action, try using your PC to visit a site like Facebook using m.facebook.com or CNN by going to m.cnn.com and you will notice a dramatic difference. The content looks terrible on a PC, but looks great on your phone or tablet.
Many sites will tell you they’re not fully compatible with one browser or another, which is why I always keep more than one browser installed. That way I can always make sure I am getting the best experience from any of the sites I am visiting.
It’s also handy in case one of my browsers decides to stop working properly as it gives me the ability to continue surfing the web while I sort out the problem.