In today’s digital age, over 5 lakh websites are created daily, adding to the nearly 4 million existing websites globally. However, only 1.5 million of these websites remain active, leaving a significant number inactive. The primary reason for the failure of many web applications is browser compatibility issues, with 90% experiencing such problems. Additionally, 62% of mobile application uninstalls occur due to issues like poor responsiveness and alignment, often stemming from inadequate cross-browser testing.
These statistics underscore the importance of effective cross-browser testing in developing fully functional web and mobile applications. While QA teams and developers make efforts to ensure proper testing, it’s crucial to define a strategy to overcome obstacles and ensure timely application releases.
Now is the time to reassess our tools and methods for cross-browser testing and seek better alternatives. Let’s explore top-notch strategies to simplify, expedite, improve the quality, and enhance the convenience of cross-browser testing.
Six Tips To Enhance Cross-Browser Testing
By implementing these tips, you can enhance your cross-browser testing strategy, ensuring a consistent and quality experience for users across all browsers and devices.
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Test on All Browsers
Begin by testing your website on all available browsers, focusing on popular ones like Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, and Opera. While manual testing can be time-consuming, tools like Pcloudy offer automated testing across multiple devices and browsers, improving efficiency.
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Prioritize Customer’s Preferred Browser
Identify the browser most commonly used by your customers through visitor surveys, and prioritize testing on that browser. Use it as a benchmark and then expand testing to other browsers to save time while ensuring compatibility.
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Utilize Pcloudy for Testing Across Versions
Pcloudy provides a platform for testing websites and mobile apps across various browsers, operating systems, and devices. Its remote testing and debugging capabilities empower developers to identify and address issues before the final release.
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Test Responsive Layouts for Mobile Devices
With the increasing use of smartphones, it’s crucial to ensure your website is responsive across different screen sizes and configurations.
Test on various iOS and Android devices to optimize performance and user experience.
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Use Chrome’s Inspect Element Tool for Rendering Issues
Chrome’s Inspect Element Tool allows you to inspect CSS and HTML elements without making permanent changes to the live site. This helps in identifying cross-browser rendering issues and ensures a consistent user experience.
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Validate JavaScript, CSS, and HTML
Run tests using validation tools for JavaScript, CSS, and HTML to ensure compatibility across browsers. These tools identify syntax errors and help in fixing issues for improved cross-browser compatibility.
Effective Strategies for Cross-Browser Testing
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Understand your Target Audience
Before starting cross-browser testing, analyze your website’s analytics to identify the browsers and versions your users predominantly use. This insight helps prioritize browsers for testing, ensuring compatibility with the most common ones.
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Use a Browser Compatibility Matrix
Develop a matrix listing all targeted browsers, versions, operating systems, and devices. This serves as a guide throughout testing, ensuring comprehensive coverage and accurate simulation of real-world scenarios.
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Leverage Automated Testing Tools
Utilize tools like Selenium, Cypress, or Pcloudy to automate testing across multiple browsers simultaneously. Writing test scripts once and executing them across various browsers saves time and effort.
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Prioritize Critical Functionality
Focus testing efforts on essential features and user interactions crucial for your website or application’s success. Prioritizing critical functionality helps allocate resources effectively and address significant compatibility issues promptly.
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Test on Real Devices
Ensure accurate simulation of user experience by testing on real devices. While emulators are useful for initial testing, investing in a device lab or using cloud-based services like Pcloudy provides a broader range of real-world testing environments.
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Regularly Update Browser Versions
Stay informed about the latest browser versions and incorporate them into your testing strategy. Regularly updating browsers ensures ongoing compatibility and early detection of compatibility issues.
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Test Responsive Design and Breakpoints
Verify that your website or application renders correctly across various screen sizes and resolutions. Test different breakpoints to ensure content adapts appropriately for desktop and mobile users.
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Use Feature Detection and Progressive Enhancement
Employ feature detection techniques like Modernizr to detect browser capabilities and apply progressive enhancement.
This approach ensures a consistent experience across different browsers while providing additional features for supported browsers.
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Implement a Robust Bug-tracking System
Set up a comprehensive bug-tracking system to document and track compatibility issues encountered during testing. Include relevant details such as browser, version, operating system, and steps to reproduce for efficient troubleshooting and resolution.
Conclusion
Cross-browser testing is vital for ensuring high-performance applications, but it can be complex due to the multitude of browser, operating system, and device combinations. However, with proper planning and strategies, the process can be simplified, accelerated, and improved in quality. Initiating cross-browser testing planning involves reassessing your list of browsers, operating systems, devices, etc., and repeating this evaluation regularly. If you haven’t commenced this process yet, it’s imperative to plan actionable steps promptly.
