What is Cross-browser Testing, and How to Perform It?

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Have you ever come across the term; browser testing? And are you looking for popular cross-browser testing tools? Take a knowledgeable ride with us to learn more!

Cross-browser testing is a QA process that verifies whether a web application or website functions as expected for end users across various devices or browsers.

Cross-browser testing is compatibility testing that ensures that a software or computer application integrates and functions as intended with the software interface or hardware.

Compatibility testing covers various devices, operating systems, and hardware.

Browser Test Planning

There are several versions of mobile browsers and desktop browsers for Android and iOS devices. Each browser has various levels of technical support, including JavaScript or CSS programming languages.

The primary objective of cross-browser testing is to examine defects that can affect how an end user communicates or views a page or site.

A web development team prefers specific audiences and the respective browsers they ask them to leverage during planning.

The team can observe potential concerns before the project starts based on specific priorities. Similarly, it can examine which browsers are crucial to test, like disapproved versions of desktop browsers.

Things We Should Test Under Cross-browser Testing:

• HTML or XHTML validation
• Page zoom-in & zoom-out function
• CSS validation
• JQuery & Ajax function
• Page Validation with or without enabling JavaScript
• Page layout in different screen resolutions
• Font size validation
• Header & footer sections
• All alignment and images
• Page styles
• Page content alignment to LHS, RHS, or center.
• Special characters encoding HTML characters
• Date formats

Benefits of Cross-browser Testing

Irrespective of the website size, all web apps, and public-facing websites would derive remarkable, clear, and measurable benefits from automated cross-browser testing.

So, let’s study some of the significant benefits of the automated cross-browser testing approach.

1. Great User Experience

With the advent of several internet browsers, it becomes essential to take advantage of cross-browser compatibility testing.

Manifold browser versions also lead to the escalating demand for cross-browser testing.

Cross-browser testing aids in serving numerous purposes. Let’s glance into some factors that facilitate a better human experience.

• Cross-browser testing can facilitate in Contriving your website smartphone compatibility.
• Seamless rendering of CTA
• Date & time formats
• A tremendously accessible website brings customer satisfaction
• Consistent and easy navigation
• Website templates stand firm over manifold browsers
• Ensures that images will look astonishing on each browser
• Vertical text orientation
• Compatible login forms
• More sales closure

2. Consistent Web Design

Cross-browser testing ensures that the website consistently functions irrespective of the browser leveraged by the audience.

At the same time, there are some minor disparities in how a website looks. Cross-browser testing sheds light on the various differences to adjust and fix the inconsistencies to prevent users from experiencing major detrimental effects.

If a website is not tested or approved through cross-browser testing, then there might be a possibility of facing display errors on a few browsers.

And it will give rise to frustration among users and, consequently, fewer conversions.

3. Ensures Responsive Design

Providing customers with responsive design is not a piece of cake. It’s a methodology where a website realigns or retaliates according to the device it is viewed on – a laptop, mobile device, desktop, or tablet.

It’s not just about visuals; it also covers that users have now started leveraging the ‘touchpad’ facility instead of a mouse for selecting a sentence or clicking a button.

Hence, responsive design is highly important since what may seem easy to click leveraging a mouse might be complex to choose with a touchpad.

Moreover, with the escalating leverage of the internet and smartphones, responsive web design now falls under the utmost need of an hour.

4. Highlights Bugs and Performance Issues

Cross-browser testing helps manually highlight errors, which can be considerably time-consuming.

Once the error is fixed, there is no need to worry about performance-related issues, as it will automatically accelerate the application’s performance.

You should consider two essential factors for effective testing; testing environment and testing application.

Significant Challenges That Occur During Cross-browser Testing

1. Frequent Browser Updates

Short release cycles and automatic updates have made it like the main browsers are no longer considered static software.

Every eight weeks, a new version of the browser is available to numerous users; most will not even realize the update of the browser.

A quick browser update will add more quirks, bugs, and features. If you’re focusing on more than two browsers, updating your browser and retesting at least once every 4-5 weeks is essential.

Hence, finding a method to automate with the best solution aids in dealing effectively with it.

2. Multiple Combinations of Operating Systems and Browsers

Some people maintain that a web application works in one browser and should work excellently in all browsers. It’s high time for all to erase all such views from their minds from now onwards.

Each browser is a highly tricky app with its quirks, behaviors, bugs, and features. In addition to this, it’ll render pages distinctively from other browsers.

3. Difficult to Automate on Your Own

It is an easy solution for the one who has never tried to automate cross-browser testing. Test often, test early, rinse, take shortcuts if required, and repeat.

However, the reality of in-house browser compatibility automation testing can quickly sober you.

When evaluating automation testing tools, there is minimal selection based on the compatibility of cross-browser testing.

Generally, cross-browser test automation highlights the functionality of web pages. It can be achieved with the help of testing tools.

4. Lack of Testing on Actual Devices

The better way to make your website error-free across numerous devices and browsers is to test on real devices and browsers. No virtual machine can match the effectiveness of native device features.

Unless a tester has access to the personal device lab or a cloud solution that is consistently updated with the newest browser versions and devices, actual device testing can be expensive and justified.

Test the compatibility and responsiveness of the website by signing in and choosing your device-browser combinations.

The user doesn’t worry about maintaining or updating anything; they will go for the app on which they want to test their devices.

5. CSS/HTML Validation

Validation of CSS and HTML codes can contrive significant challenges for developers during cross-browser testing. It’s expected since various browsers read and control code in multiple ways.

It becomes feasible for developers to get stashed by a bug. Specific browsers might correct it automatically, while others might not be capable of showcasing their remarkable features in the portion of the managing code.

To Sum Up

Browser testing is only possible with the use of cross-browser testing tools. Running Cross Browser Testing is not about analyzing and ensuring the responsive nature of your web applications but about taking the imagination out of your website development method.

There can be plenty of browsers, platforms, and device combinations.

However, with automated cross-browser testing, one can find all testing possibilities much more accessible by looking into its benefits and some problems to overcome various difficulties.