As both Chrome and Firefox, the most popular web browsers, approach version 100 (now at 98th and 97th versions, respectively), it appears that the move to triple digits may cause issues for end users.
In a new blog post, Mozilla, the developer and parent company of Firefox, warned users about the potential for issues with the introduction of Firefox and Chrome 100 versions. Browsers may encounter problems when parsing user-agent strings containing three-digit version numbers.
A web browser’s user-agent string contains information about the browser software, such as the browser name, version number, and technologies supported. The browser’s user-agent is delivered together with the request for a web page when a person visits a website.
This enables the web page to determine the visitor’s browser version and tailor its response to the features that the browser supports.
Firefox and Chrome 100
Some websites could not be shown when browsers switched from single-digit to double-digit versions. This time, though, both Mozilla and Google are preparing for new versions to be released in early May and late March, respectively, with backup plans in place.
When Mozilla and Google first tested triple-digit user agents in August 2021, they discovered that while most sites handled the change well enough, a small number of them experienced significant issues when parsing a user-agent string that contained a three-digit version number.
Since then, Mozilla has been tracking defects caused by the version 100 update and has discovered issues on websites such as HBO Go, Bethesda, Yahoo, Slack, and any website built using the Duda website builder.
Both Mozilla and Google want to continue testing version 100 user-agents until the browsers’ formal releases, which are scheduled for March 29th for Chrome and May 3rd for Firefox.
In the event that any bugs remain unsolved prior to the release, both browsers have backup measures in place to ensure that users are not harmed.
To read our blog on “After eight years, Google Chrome finally changes its logo,” click here.
