Table of Contents
Introduction
A website consists of numerous components, and the connection that a browser has with these components differs from browser to browser. CSS, for example, might behave very differently in Mozilla Firefox than in Google Chrome. Design components can also vary in size among browsers. Cross-browser testing online ensures that these components work properly across all browser versions. Real-time browser testing allows you to cross-check the functionalities before launching. It may verify that HTML, JavaScript, Applets, AJAX requests, Flash, and all web design components appear and perform correctly on all browser types. According to Forrester Consulting research, 47 %of customers anticipate online pages to load in two seconds or less, and 40% will wait no more than three seconds before abandoning a site. 79 % of those who had a bad experience say they are less likely to buy from that site again, while 64% say they will buy from another online retailer. Complications related to time and experience can be resolved only via real-time browser testing. The ultimate purpose of cross-browser testing is to offer consistency by allowing testers to uncover issues preventing a site from showing or running correctly across different screen widths and browsers. You can also execute automated cross-browser testing for more efficiency.
Global market share held by leading internet browsers from January 2012 to December 2021
What Is The Deal With Cross-Browser Testing
Although it is one of the most time-consuming tasks for QA and development teams, cross-browser testing is critical for providing a quality user experience. Upon looking at multiple browsers right now, you will notice different technology for the backend to render web pages. Variations in these are accounted for via cloud browser testing. It requests that adjustments be made to the site’s code to help it adapt to different browsers. Furthermore, it assists designers and developers in identifying issues that require rectification as soon as possible.
Typical cross-browser concerns are as follows:
- Various JavaScript implementations
2.CSS resets are missing.
- Mismatch between font size and picture orientation
4.HTML5 is not supported.
- Page alignment is inconsistent.
- Incompatibility of layout with browser
- Misalignment of frameworks or library versions
You may avoid these by conducting real-time browser testing before releasing your website or web app. You may also perform mobile browser testing to check the functionalities across devices.
Cross-browser testing aids in this by identifying browser-specific compatibility issues so that they can be debugged fast. It ensures that you are not alienating a portion of your target audience just because your website does not run on their browser OS.
Measures Involved In Cross-Browser Testing
The complexity of current devices and consumer demands have made the load of functions quite bulky. Without sufficient real-time browser testing, you cannot think of making it available to the users. Cross-browser testing at present needs more than simply visual verification. It consists primarily of invisible functionality and browser-related business logic around server- and client-side code. You can avail the tools and execute cross-browser testing online. Cross-browser testing requires the following steps:
- Validate code – Ensure that the CSS and JavaScript are validated across all target browsers.
- Verify the user interface — Make sure that all components and aspects of UI closely comply with the specifications and requirements.
- Operation — You need to verify that the feature is consistent across all popups and pages. Tabs, panels, links, and navigation menus are examples of this.
- Examine browser performance – Keep an eye out for differences in the user interface or processing performance in various browsers. To validate this process, you can use cloud browser testing. You may even execute automated cross-browser testing to ease the hassle of repetitive tasks.
- Test for mobile consistency — When it comes to resolution and orientation, it is critical that you test for consistency across real devices.
Is Cross-Browser Testing Necessary for Every Product Release Cycle?
It is advisable for you to do real-time browser testing for each product release cycle. Short release cycles and automated upgrades have resulted in no web browser being static software. Every 8-12 weeks, a new browser version for distinct users launches. The vast majority of them will be unaware of their updated browser. Browser updates include new features, oddities, and issues.
It is also worth noting that browser makers provide updates on schedules. A decline in mobile browser testing is not the only reason many websites fail. In 2016, around 37% of companies only tested their current versions, which resulted in their failure. If you target several browsers, you will need to update your suite and re-run cloud browser testing every 8-10 weeks.
When Is Cross-Browser Testing Done?
You can do cloud browser testing depending on your position and workflow:
During Development: Before sending changes to production, developers in continuous integration pipelines test new features to ensure cross-browser compatibility.
In Staging/Pre-Release: QA teams perform this for each Release Candidate to ensure that no browser compatibility issues arise in the most recent version of the website.
How Do We Do Cross-Browser Testing
When it comes to cross-browser testing, you have two choices: perform it manually or use automated testing.
Manual testing involves testing web apps across browsers without tools or scripts. In this scenario, you will manually perform test cases to detect defects and validate essential functionalities in a web app. Testing a more prominent site or app across numerous browsers might help keep expenses low if you are a small firm targeting only a handful of browsers. However, it rapidly becomes time-consuming. In such cases, automated cross-browser testing is a better alternative. Even there are certain stumbling blocks. Let’s consider Selenium-like scripted testing frameworks as an example. You will have to rewrite every test script for each browser you want to test in this case.
Why Choose Headspin Automated Cross-Brower Testing? (Conclusion)
Cross-browser testing is a sort of non-functional testing that allows you to see if your website functions when visited via:
- Various browser-OS combinations, for example, on browsers such as Firefox, Chrome, Edge, and Safari—on any operating system such as Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
- Various gadgets users may access and interact with your website on devices such as smartphones, tablets, desktops, and laptops.
- Assistive Technology, In other words, the website is compatible with assistive devices such as screen readers for those who are differently-abled.
According to a survey in 2017, 49% of the companies test only their current versions. This is one of the key reasons for website failure.
All of these concerns should be addressed when selecting a cross-browser tester.
Headspin enables you to perform cross-browser tests remotely and debug mobile, web, audio, and video apps on thousands of devices worldwide.
With Headspin, you can focus on features rather than issues:
- Run cross-browser testing online to find flaws before your consumers do.
- Selenium testing is automated.
- You will experience no maintenance burden.
- You can accelerate development by up to tenfold.
- To evaluate browser compatibility on the fly, use cross-browser testing online tools.
- Remote and continuous testing on actual devices in real environments. With a safe, scalable, and dependable environment, run automation in-browser testing tools.
Headspin also offers you an automated cross-browser testing experience where you can save costs for your organization. It allows rapid development and delivery. Automated cross-browser testing improves the accuracy of the testing and enhances productivity. It delivers better app performance and provides real-time feedback. These testing tools also support CI/CD and DevOps implementation.