In web development, a polyfill (or polyfiller) is downloadable code which provides facilities that are not built-in to a web browser. For example, many features of HTML5 are not supported by versions of Internet Explorer older than version 8 or 9, but can be used by web pages if those pages install a polyfill.[1][2] Web shims[3] like HTML5 Shiv are a related concept.
Polyfills can also be used to add entirely new functionality to browsers. For instance, BrowserID relies on a Javascript API which (as of mid 2012) is not supported in any browser and must be provided via a polyfill.[4]
The term "polyfiller" is inspired by Polyfilla, the name of a brand of spackling paste sold in the UK.[1]
References
- ^ a b Sharp, Remy. "What is a polyfill?". Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ HTML5 Polyfill list by feature
- ^ Webshim
- ^ "navigator.id". Mozilla Developer Network. 30 Jun 2012.
External links
- A list of polyfills providing HTML5 facilities, from the Modernizr project
- HTML5 Polyfill List By Feature