HTML and CSS Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 2-1. A visual representation of native HTML5 audio support in modern browsers
2.4 Making Internet Explorer Recognize HTML5 Elements
Problem
Internet Explorer doesn't apply CSS to elements it doesn't recognize. And,
unfortunately, Internet Explorer (prior to IE9) doesn't yet recognize most HTML5
elements. This means implementing HTML5 is difficult, as Internet Explorer won't
render any CSS that you apply to these new elements.
Solution
A clever solution to this problem, attributed to Sjoerd Visscher (see
http://intertwingly
.net/blog/2008/01/22/Best-Standards-Support#c1201006277
)
and known as the
shim
technique, involves creating a DOM element of the same name as the HTML5 element
that you want to use. Once you create this element, Internet Explorer will apply CSS
to it.
