Apple, Google, Microsoft and Mozilla Collaborate on Browser Interoperability

Apple, Google, Microsoft and Mozilla introduce Interop 2022, a test suite to improve browser interoperability. The ultimate goal is for pages and web apps to look the same in all browsers.

Interop 2022 is a benchmark that representatives from Apple’s WebKit, Google, Microsoft and Mozilla have worked on. In addition, the software consultancy firms Bocoup and Igalia are involved. The test suite focuses on so-called focus areas, tests that indicate whether web standards are consistently implemented in browsers. In total, there are fifteen such test items, five of which have been adopted from an earlier initiative by Google and Microsoft.

The companies used feedback from web developers to identify the interoperability issues. That feedback is based on, among other things, studies of MDN’s Web DNA Report and bug reports, including via webcompat.com. It also found that some problems stem from the lack of a standard or standards being unclear.

The makers of Interop 2022 have designated these areas as investigation areas, as a sign that further investigation by the joint parties is needed to solve these problems. This involves three segments. Upon successful completion of the test, each focus area counts for 6 percent for a total of 90 percent, the remaining 10 percent in the total score comes from the investigate test items. The test provides scores for stable and experimental browser releases, and the tool’s dashboard shows the progress browsers make over the year.