IE8 Developer Tool for Website Design

There is a handy little feature in IE8 that, amongst other things, allows users to change the modes employed when  viewing web pages. It is done by starting up the IE8 'Developer Tool'. You can do this for any currently open browser tab by pressing the F12 button whilst viewing the tab.

The two configuration features of most value when testing pages for inter browser compatibility and bugs are:

• Browser mode:
  • Internet Explorer 7
  • Internet Explorer 8
  • Internet Explorer 8 Compatibility View
• Document mode:
  • Quirks mode
  • Internet Explorer 7 Standards
  • Internet Explorer 8 Standards

'Browser Mode' - allows the user to set the the overall browser behavior for the tab.

'Document Mode' - users can choose to render documents based on either IE7, IE8 or undefined quirks document standard (i.e. <!DOCTYPE>).