MDN Baseline Widget Expansion
The MDN Baseline widget has been extended to 315 reference pages, introducing a middle‑tier "Newly available" indicator and broadening the core browser list to include mobile versions. This update aims to give developers clearer, real‑time insight into the support status of web platform features across major browsers.
Refined Baseline Definition and Browser Set
The Baseline definition now requires a feature to appear in the two most recent stable releases of each core browser, including their mobile counterparts, before it is marked as widely supported. This change reflects the reality that many users access the web via mobile devices, and it aligns the metric with the web standard ecosystem. The governance team may still override statuses when implementation bugs or data inconsistencies arise.
New “Newly Available” Status
The added "Newly available" widget appears when a feature has just entered the latest stable releases of all core browsers. Clicking the widget reveals the release date and a brief description, helping developers decide whether to adopt the feature immediately or wait for broader adoption.
Timeline Example: CSS Custom Properties
CSS custom properties were first classified as "Newly available" on 5 April 2017 with Edge 15, entering "Baseline 2017". After a thirty‑month adoption period, they reached the "Widely available" tier on 5 October 2019, illustrating how the timeline captures both initial rollout and practical usability.
Governance and Community Feedback
Updates to the Baseline widget are driven by the WebDX Community Group and MDN collaboration with partners such as Google and Microsoft. The governance team monitors data from the Web Features project and can adjust statuses when necessary. Developers are encouraged to provide input via the widget feedback icon, ensuring the system evolves with real‑world usage.
For additional insight into how large‑scale web feature data is managed, see the OpenAI‑Broadcom partnership overview. A recent discussion on privacy‑focused standards offers perspective on governance practices: Global Privacy Control draft guide.