Prompted by Mike,

here's my (needs updating) browser support statement:

(green would be the last two versions, amber a couple beyond that, and red, everything else)

Browser support statement
This statement explains how I create the underlying code for a website. It explains the base level that I work to. By prior agreement this base level may be extended to cover other browsers on other operating systems at additional cost.

Build quality

All code will be validated to current W3C standards.
Certain designs may require the use of a transitional doctype.  (a legacy statement!)
Other Standards and Styles will be detailed in the style guide.

Not all browsers support all standards

The World Wide Web can be browsed using a wide variety of software and not all of that software conforms to W3C standards. It is uneconomical to test a website using every possible browser on every software and hardware platform.

How browsers break

Browser support inconsistencies will cause the underlying code to be rendered differently, in some cases this is just a minor alignment problem, in others it can render the content inaccessible or the site unusable.

Sometimes the content will be readable but the layout of the content is disjointed.

Definition of "bugs"

For the purposes of this statement visual alignment discrepancies are defined as an inconsequential bug. 

Where the rendered code causes the content to become disjointed, this would be defined as a minor bug.

Where the rendered code causes the content to be inaccessible or the site function to fail, this would be defined as a major bug.

Support means different things

Browser support means different things to different people. This statement defines: 

full support as

Visual layout matches the original visual design at default font and agreed window sizes.

All functionality matches the agreed brief.

Intermediate support as 

Visual layout is similar to the original design but may have some inconsequential bugs

Poor support as

Visual layout is similar to the original design but may have some minor bugs, content is still readable

No support as

Content may still be readable, visual layout not the same as the original design.

Testing and Fixing for visual support and functionality

Testing is carried out where indicated and fixes created for bugs.  
Fixes for failures of functionality due to browser inconsistencies will be applied on discovery.

Browser support - graded.

As the level of support for W3C standards varies testing all the options is not economic, browsers are therefore graded into groups.

All the browsers listed in the Green Group will have all supplied code thoroughly tested and fixed to give full support.

Browsers in the Amber group will be sample tested, These browsers should achieve intermediate to poor support without fixing.

Browsers in the Red Group and those not listed will not be tested. Layout styling may be intentionally hidden from these browsers and no support is guaranteed

Upgrading a browser from one group to another is discretionary, by separate negotiation and additional cost.
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