Cross-browser testing is the process of testing a website for compatibility across multiple browsers or devices. This test can help identify bugs and other issues that may not have been encountered otherwise, preventing frustration in the long run.
Cross browser testing is a process in which you test your site or app on different browsers, to ensure that it looks and behaves the same across all of them. This can be done manually by visiting each browser one at a time, or automatically with tools like Selenium WebDriver.
The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Cross-Browser Testing: Cross Browser Testing confirms that an application performs as intended across many browsers and gracefully degrades. The procedure entails testing your application’s compatibility with several browsers.
When I’ve had a problem with a website, how many times have I been instructed by technical support to try a different browser? Despite the fact that I make a career in the software sector, I always feel like a complete moron.
Have you ever been in a situation like this?
‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ I often wonder. I questioned myself. But it turns out that this isn’t my fault; the website wasn’t fully tested for cross-browser compatibility, and I just found out about it now.
Introduction
You’ve undoubtedly seen that certain websites don’t perform properly in certain browsers, leading us to believe that the website is broken. Even still, when you open it in an other browser, it works perfectly. This behavior may therefore be used to demonstrate a website’s compatibility with various browsers.
Each browser interprets the information on a web page differently. As a result, certain browsers may be missing aspects that your website is attempting to show, making your website look broken.
The error messages shown in both browsers are not similar, as illustrated below. If you look closely at the text, you’ll see that the color, font, and other elements have changed.
With the advent of technology, several browser alternatives are now accessible, and making a website operate in one browser is no longer sufficient.
Allow users to use whichever browser they choose to use to access your application. As a result, it’s critical to evaluate your website’s compatibility with various web browsers. Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and others are among the most widely used browsers.
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With that context in mind, I’m sure you can all predict what the focus of today’s session will be: cross-browser testing.
As is customary at STH, we will concentrate on the fundamentals. When we ask the fundamental questions “What, why, how, who, when, and where,” any notion, in our view, makes a lot of sense.
Let’s do just that as we go along.
What is cross-browser testing, and how does it work?
#1) Cross-browser testing is examining your website or application in a variety of browsers to ensure that it functions as intended and reliably across all of them, with no dependencies or quality sacrifices.
#2) This is true for both mobile and online apps.
#3) What kinds of applications are being evaluated? Customers-focused applications should be evaluated. “Aren’t all programs client-facing?” is a query that comes to mind at this stage. They are, in fact. They are, indeed. Let me give you an example.
Applicant 1: An internal application designed to keep track of a company’s inventory.
Application 2: End-users may buy the company’s items using this application.
- Because it’s hard to predict which browsers, systems, or versions end users will use, it’s advisable to test Application 2 for browser compatibility.
- If, on the other hand, all of the company’s PCs are Windows 8 machines with Chrome browsers, then there’s no need to search for or verify anything else in relation to Application 1.
What Is Cross-Browser Testing and How Do I Do It?
Let’s have a conversation right now! Do you use a tool or do everything by hand?
Manually managing various devices, operating systems, browsers, and machines is possible, but it comes with its own set of difficulties, investments, and obstacles.
Method by Hand
In this example, an organization specifies the browsers that a program must support. Testers execute the same test cases in different browsers, observing the application’s behavior and reporting any flaws they find.
This sort of program cannot be tested on all browsers, and it is also conceivable that the application will not be tested on all major browser versions.
Manually doing cross-browser tests is both time-consuming and expensive.
Automated Procedure
Cross-browser testing is based on the notion of running the same set of test cases on various browsers several times.
For this sort of labor, automating repeated operations is the ideal approach. As a result, the use of tools makes testing more cost-effective and time-efficient. As a result, there are several solutions on the market to assist in this procedure.
We can help with any or all of the following, depending on the tool and the licence type:
- You may test your Java, AJAX, HTML, Flash, and other websites on distant PCs using their VPN (Virtual Private Machine). While the majority of these are safe to use, you should act with care since you are giving your personal information to a third party.
- For the sites and URLs submitted, screenshots of how the pages and links looked in various browsers are supplied. Of course, the screenshots are static.
- The results are given browser-by-browser once an action in one browser is synchronized across all browsers.
- A page may have many screen resolutions.
- When an issue is discovered, a video or screenshot is captured to transmit it for further examination.
- Apps for mobile and web are commonly supported.
- On private sites that need authentication, a test may also be run.
- Within a private network/firewall, testing may also be done for local sites.
Tools to Consider
#1) LambdaTest (LambdaTest = LambdaTest
LambdaTest users may use a cloud-based cross-browser testing tool to examine the performance of a website or web application across 2000+ different browsers and operating systems.
Selenium automation tests may be done on a cloud-based Selenium grid that is scalable, secure, and dependable, enabling users to test live public or locally hosted websites and online applications through cross-browser interaction.
CrossBrowserTesting (#2)
CrossBrowserTesting is provided by a business named SmartBear. You can ensure that every online experience is flawless on every device and browser with CrossBrowserTesting’s cloud-based real device lab. Bye-bye, virtual machines and device labs. Using Selenium, visual, and manual tests, test on over 2050 genuine desktop and mobile browsers.
Do you want to speed up your testing as a non-technical user? The Record & Replay functionality allows you to simultaneously record live tests and execute recorded tests.
Selenium (number three)
Selenium is an excellent tool for testing web-based applications. By changing the browser used to perform the test case, Selenium enables you to run the same test case numerous times using various browsers.
BrowserStack (#4)
BrowserStack, a cloud-based platform for online and mobile testing, allows you to test apps across a wide range of browsers, operating systems, and mobile devices.
#5 Websurfing
This live interactive service allows developers and designers to easily test websites. Browserling offers fast connections to the most popular browsers on the most common operating systems in order to enable easy access to all of the most popular browsers on the most popular operating systems.
To outline the “how to” of cross-browser testing
#1. The amount of visits influences which browsers should be tested.
#2. A complete examination of the AUT (Application under test) itself should be performed to identify which elements of the application should be tested and whether it should be tested at all. A site should be tested on a variety of browsers, including ones with various functionality, but time and money must be factored in as well. The ideal method is to test everything on one browser per platform and just the most important/common features on the other.
#3. After determining “What” to test and “Where” (browsers), infrastructure considerations must be made, such as whether to purchase tools or do it manually. It’s also important to keep expenditures in mind. Reliability, hazards, security problems, individuals to cooperate with, timeliness, acceptance criteria, and deadlines for addressing faults and defects are just a few of the variables to consider.
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#4. Put your system to the test. Regular functional testing test cases may be used to validate the system’s effectiveness. Look-and-feel/rendezvous test scenarios aren’t required.
The procedure I mentioned at the start of this essay that failed me was an online bank transfer. I got a servlet error every time I attempted to do the transfer, no matter how many times I tried. I went into my bank account and chose a transfer sum of roughly one lakh rupees.
If browser compatibility testing is enabled, the test script for the transfer process will look like this.
- By signing in, you may access your online banking account.
- Select the account to which the payment will be made.
- The sum to be transferred is $100,000.
- After choosing the payee, click “Transfer.”
- It is predicted that you will succeed: The transition should proceed without a hitch.
- In this test, all browsers will be utilized.
It’s worth noting that this is identical to a functional test case. This page has further information about non-functional testing.
#5. If the design team was not engaged in the testing process, inform them of the findings. There will be adjustments.
When is the most appropriate time to accomplish this?
Early testing yields the greatest outcomes. As a result, it is advised that you begin utilizing it as soon as the page designs are ready. It may also be utilized when the site has been completely functioning and integrated.
If a cross-browser test was missed during the design, development, or quality assurance stages, it is still feasible to execute one after the program is in production. This is the most costly and dangerous choice.
When it comes to browser compatibility testing, where do you go?
A development, quality assurance, or production environment is a common response to this topic. This, however, does not ensure cross-browser compatibility and is thus irrelevant (if I may say so). You may use it in any one of them or all of them.
Conclusion
Here are a few things to remember:
- Now that I’ve been teaching quality assurance for a while, I’m starting to see what’s next, which is – is it functional and non-functional testing? I suppose it is a combination of the two.
- Cross-platform testing should not be confused with Multi-Platform testing, which examines your program across a variety of platforms including Linux, Windows, Mac, and others. Although, due to the fact that certain older apps cannot be tested on all platforms, the two are sometimes combined. There may be changes in browser versions depending on the platform version.
- Because software environments, browsers, and devices are continually evolving, regression testing suites should include browser testing to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Cross-browser testing, in addition to normal testing, may assist improve the quality of an application.
Cross-browser testing avoids a negative impression on consumers by offering consistent experiences across browsers and operating systems.
It is more cost-effective to fix errors early in the development process, and the same is true for flaws discovered during testing.
This testing leads in happy consumers and a happy you, in addition to improving your company.
It’s simply another example of the QA field’s multi-faceted character and the fact that there’s something for everyone.
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Cross browser testing is a process that allows developers to test their website across different browsers and platforms. Cross browser testing ensures that the web design will work properly on all devices, including desktop computers, tablets, and mobile phones. Reference: why cross browser testing is important.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you do cross browser testing?
A: I have a team of five coders working with me to ensure my software is compatible across all browsers.
How cross browser testing is handled?
A: Cross browser testing is handled by using tools like BrowserStack and Sauce Labs.
Can cross browser testing be done manually?
A: Generally, no. Cross browser testing is a fairly complex process that requires an advanced level of knowledge and skills in order to be done manually.
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