Karl Jones: Created page with "In web development, a '''polyfill''' is code that implements a feature on web browsers that do not support the feature. == Description == Most often, it..."

2016-09-25T14:34:33Z

Created page with "In web development, a '''polyfill''' is code that implements a feature on web browsers that do not support the feature. == Description == Most often, it..."

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In [[web development]], a '''polyfill''' is code that implements a feature on [[Web browser|web browsers]] that do not support the feature.

== Description ==

Most often, it refers to a [[JavaScript library]] that implements an [[HTML5]] web standard, either an established standard (supported by some browsers) on older browsers, or a proposed standard (not supported by any browsers) on existing browsers. Formally, "a polyfill is a shim for a browser API".

Polyfills allow web developers to use an API regardless of whether it is supported by a browser or not, and usually with minimal overhead.

Typically they first check if a browser supports an API, and use it if available, otherwise using their own implementation.

Polyfills themselves use other, more supported features, and thus different polyfills may be needed for different browsers.

The term is also used as a verb: polyfilling is providing a polyfill for a feature.

== See also ==

* [[Adapter pattern]]
* [[Shim (computing)]]
* [[Wrapper library]]

== External links ==

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyfill Polyfill] @ Wikipedia

[[Category:Web design and development]]

Polyfill - Revision history

Karl Jones: Created page with "In web development, a '''polyfill''' is code that implements a feature on web browsers that do not support the feature. == Description == Most often, it..."