In this Tedium web content, the author explores various HTML hacks that were used in the past to overcome limitations and create innovative solutions. The first hack mentioned is the Netscape Navigator 4.0 @import hack, which was necessary due to the rushed implementation of CSS in Netscape 4. The use of HTML tables for layout, although considered a hack and criticized for breaking convention and accessibility, allowed developers to shape their websites visually. Other hacks mentioned include using an underscore in front of a CSS style to target specific versions of Internet Explorer, using AlphaImageLoader to make PNGs transparent in IE, and conditional comments introduced by Microsoft to fix broken HTML in older versions of IE. The author also highlights the Scalable Inman Flash Replacement (sIFR) hack that allowed custom fonts to be displayed on websites using Flash. The preheader text hack, Google Chrome Frame, the Webkit-only selector hack, and responsive design are also discussed. Overall, the content highlights various clever and unique solutions that developers implemented in the past to work around browser limitations and achieve desired results.
https://tedium.co/2023/11/24/weird-html-hacks-history/