PostIE6

PostIE6 refers to the era and set of practices that emerged after Internet Explorer 6 ceased to be the leading web browser. It is not an official standard; rather, it is a shorthand used by developers to describe a shift toward web standards, interoperability, and reduced reliance on browser-specific hacks.

Background and context: IE6, released in 2001, dominated the web for many years but offered limited CSS support and several rendering quirks. As other browsers improved and enterprises upgraded to IE7, IE8, and newer platforms, developers began moving away from hacks that targeted IE6 and toward standards-compliant markup and progressive enhancement.

Practices and techniques: PostIE6 design emphasizes valid HTML and CSS, consistent doctypes, CSS resets, and layout methods that work across modern engines. It favors feature-detection-based progressive enhancement, graceful degradation, and responsive design. Testing across multiple browsers and devices became standard.

Impact: The shift contributed to greater cross-browser interoperability, better accessibility, and a foundation for modern technologies such as HTML5 and CSS3. It also influenced the tooling ecosystem, including frameworks, polyfills, and debugging utilities.

Legacy and status: The phrase is primarily used in historical discussions of web development. While some niche applications remained on legacy systems for years, mainstream development largely dropped IE6 support in the late 2000s and early 2010s as new browsers gained market share.