Javascript! How many people have it disabled?

[movietub]

Ok, as part of our current web revamp we want to simplify the layout and make everything cleaner. In order to do this, but still make expanded information instantly available, we need to employ some script to make our objects a little more dynamic...

All we need is a little light javascript embedded in our markup, my concern however is I can't find any reliable looking stats as to how many users have it diabled these days. All the reports I can find admit that they are innacurate due to bots which don't read javascript - but how inaccurate??

My hunch is that if you exclude mobile devices then virtually everyone, certainly active online shoppers, will have javascript enabled as default. We can put alternative layouts in for non enabled viewers, but these won't be as attractive of course.

Anyone know of any solid stats or have any experience of switching to a more dynamic site?

 

[OldWelshGuy]

what industry sector, where are people going to be visiting from? Many large corporations like local authorities have it turned off by default.

 

[movietub]

what industry sector, where are people going to be visiting from? Many large corporations like local authorities have it turned off by default.

Sorry, was a very broad question! Ecommerce, selling fishkeeping gear. One of my concerns was upsetting people who shop from their desks at work for the reason you state. Although I would have assumed that any organisation that turns of javascript would also apply other securities which make completing a transaction online impossible anyway.

We already get a number of people calling 'at work' asking to complete the sale over the phone for the same reason.

 

[movietub]

Just to add;

We are well aware that anyone with js disabled can still be shown the content they need to see. The problem is the overall site layout will be designed to look best with js working, the non-dynamic alternative probably won't look as streamlined as the current site with no js whatsoever.

So long as 5% or less are affected it wouldn't bother me as I know a little js can make a site a lot neater and intuitive for the remaining % of users with js turned on. Also I sort of imagine that anyone with it turned off is used to looking at a pretty basic, 1999 version of the web these days!

 

[cmcp]

I build for public sector (schools and councils mainly) and our 2009 figures show over 99% javascript use.

As with everything check your own stats.

We've since deployed effects like rounded corners etc with javascript until ie6 dies.

 

[Andy Walpole]

It really shouldn't matter movietub.

JavaScript is there to serve as an enhancement and should never serve a vital part of a sites functionality or navigation - it is the pretty icing on the CSS / HTML / dynamic script cake. Nothing more.

Just make sure the site functions fine without JavaScript and if a small proportion of your users can't see the lovely icing than that is unfortunate but not disastrous.

 

[CaterTrade]

Have you looked at this page? (you need to scroll down a bit). It should be pretty accurate.

http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp

However, you say

My hunch is that if you exclude mobile devices

I personally think we shouldn't be excluding mobile devices any more (with iphones and ipads around) and have added mobile compatibility for my site to the to do list.

 

[twiggy99]

I believe the current stats sit around 97% the other 3% are mostly large companies who have it disabled for security reasons due to them running extremely old software.

Most sites have some form of javascript so I don't see it being a problem.

 

[mraynham]

It really shouldn't matter movietub.

JavaScript is there to serve as an enhancement and should never serve a vital part of a sites functionality or navigation - it is the pretty icing on the CSS / HTML / dynamic script cake. Nothing more.

Just make sure the site functions fine without JavaScript and if a small proportion of your users can't see the lovely icing than that is unfortunate but not disastrous.

I agree. JavaScript, Flash, Silverlight, and whatever other client-side enhancements there might be, should only ever be used to enhance content that already works well without it. Personally, I think that the idea of graceful degradation is the wrong way to think about it. Progressive enhancement is a better approach.

Many mobile phone browsers either do not process Javascript, or handle it badly. Some people turn off Javascript support on their desktop browser for security reasons, and some turn it off because they don't like the way some web developers abuse it (popup windows, flashing banners, modification of standard navigation options, and so on).

If you write using standards compliant (X)HTML, and then carefully add extra functionality with JavaScript, you are likely to capture a bigger market, and your web sites will probably be more accessible at the same time. You will also not have to worry about having correct usage statistics From what you say, your site will work without Javascript anyway, so it sounds like you are already on the right lines.