Within the coming weeks, Google’s Chrome browser, Mozilla’s Firefox browser, and Microsoft’s Edge browser will all hit model 100. These milestone releases might sound thrilling, however in addition they have the potential to trigger havoc throughout the web. As builders for all three of the browsers warn, some web sites may break after they try and parse user-agent strings containing a three-digit model quantity. Due to this fact, all three corporations at the moment are attempting to mitigate the impression earlier than model 100 rolls out later this yr.
Chrome, Firefox, and Edge model 100 are coming
As Google explains, Person-Agent (UA) is a string that browsers ship in HTTP headers. It permits servers to determine the browser. When a browser hits model 100, the UA stories a three-digit model quantity as a substitute of a two-digit quantity. Google says internet builders use quite a lot of strategies for parsing these strings. Therein lies the issue.
Google supplied a useful clarification of the potential points on its developer website:
And not using a single specification to comply with, completely different browsers have completely different codecs for the Person-Agent string, and site-specific Person-Agent parsing. It’s potential that some parsing libraries might have hard-coded assumptions or bugs that don’t take into consideration three-digit main model numbers.
The excellent news is that many libraries improved their parsing logic when browsers moved to two-digit variations. In consequence, three-digit model numbers shouldn’t be as problematic. However with that stated, Chrome builders have been working experiments within the subject that surfaced points that should be mounted. Now it’s a race in opposition to the clock.
Because it stands, Google and Microsoft plan to launch Chrome model 100 and Edge model 100 on March twenty ninth, 2022. In the meantime, Mozilla has scheduled the launch of Firefox model 100 for Could third, 2022. All three corporations are working experiments and fixing points to make their rollouts as easy as potential. To this point, the groups have found points on a lot of well-liked web sites, together with Yahoo, Bethesda, T-Cell, and HBO Go.
Avoiding catastrophe
A number of the points that the builders have discovered have already been mounted. Others will certainly be mounted forward of the rollouts within the coming weeks. However there’ll undoubtedly be bugs that the builders can’t tackle earlier than the respective model 100 launches.
With a view to keep away from breaking the web, Google and Mozilla each have backup plans.
Google says that the backup plan for Chrome is to make use of a flag to freeze the foremost model quantity at 99. The actual main model quantity will then seem within the minor model a part of the UA string. After all, the three-digit quantity within the minor model a part of the string might additionally trigger points, which is why Google is working experiments on its backup plan as properly.
Mozilla will take a distinct tack in terms of post-launch bug fixes. The technique that Mozilla employs will depend upon the severity of the difficulty. Mozilla can sizzling repair damaged web sites with its website interventions mechanism. It’s additionally potential to freeze the foremost model quantity on Firefox for widespread issues.