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Cross browser testing is a valuable asset for enterprises to stay afloat in this highly competitive market. It allows them to maintain the functionality of web applications across multiple browsers. Cross-browser testing is the process of testing a web application on different browsers and operating systems to ensure that it works perfectly with all combinations.
However, for businesses, cross-browser testing is a challenging task. Most organizations rely on large testing teams for manual evaluation. At present, new technologies have come to facilitate efficient cross-browser testing. Moreover, the different types of cross-browser testing techniques and automated tools’ implementation improve businesses’ performance and efficiency.
What is Cross-Browser Testing?
Cross-browser testing involves testing websites and web applications across various combinations of operating systems, platforms, browsers, and devices to ensure that it performs efficiently across all varieties. A web browser follows a different approach for rendering websites. Cross-browser testing is a vital aspect that evaluates web applications’ performance based on the development, testing, and design.
However, most business owners fail to understand the differences between manual testing and automation testing for the cross-browser application. It is essential to understand the scope for testing a large number of applications across various combinations. Besides, repetitive testing is only viable with automation. Similarly, software giants are investing heavily in the development of a cross-browser test automation framework.
Various community design automation platforms are compatible with the different environments for creating and testing web applications. It allows the developers to evaluate the performance of an application. The automatic cross-platform technique is highly beneficial for businesses of all sizes and types. It has become an integral part of the compatibility testing of web apps.
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Different Types of Cross Browser Testing
Cross-browser testing is an extensive domain comprising of two main parts. Manual and Automatic cross-browser testing, and both these techniques have a different set of functionalities and benefits. The following section elaborates on both these methods.
Manual Testing
As you can understand from the term, manual testing refers to testing web applications manually without any script or tools. The traditional approach helps in checking necessary features and technical glitches in a web app. In this process, testers use manual methods for testing applications, which is quite time-consuming. It becomes challenging when apps require testing for more than 50 combinations of devices, browsers, and operating systems. Manual testing is not suitable for bulk testing purposes.
Automated Testing
It is a more reliable and faster approach than manual testing that involves efficient automatic tools for building scripts and validating web applications. This process is entirely dependent on pre-scripted tests that can run automatically. Automated cross-browser testing helps in equating actual results with the expected values. However, all the automated processes require some amount of human effort for deriving initial test scripts. The primary purpose of automated testing is to evaluate test cases in lesser time. In simpler terms, automation uses assistant script tools and software to perform revaluation at various application levels.
Why is Cross Browser Testing Important?
Today, users access many websites daily, unaware that each device and operating system combination is different. In some cases, the user realizes that the website has some errors and leaves the site. In contrast, others think that the website is broken and looks for a suitable alternative.
Browser vendors follow open web standards, and each has their understanding. Mostly, website rendering uses JavaScript, HTML, and CSS for debugging websites as per the source code. Also, it helps developers guarantee that the website performs and looks consistent on different browsers.
Testers and developers are responsible for abstracting browser differences. Cross-browser testing allows pinpointing browser specific compatibility issues for faster debugging. It also ensures that the user experience is not compromised due to compatibility issues between the OS and browser.
How to Select Browsers for Testing?
The availability of various devices, operating systems, and browsers make it quite challenging to create a perfect combination for testing. Moreover, experts recommend focusing upon testing efforts to maximize a website’s reach among the target audience. The following steps help shortlist popular browsers and versions:
Based on Popularity
There are 10 to 20 commonly used or popular browsers. Combining these with two popular operating systems like iOS and Android helps increase the target audience’s reach. Besides, the majority of the B2C websites follow this approach for optimization.
Based on Analysis
Evaluate website traffic statistics captured by analytic tools and categorize it according to device and browser. Also, it helps in finding the most popular browser combination and devices used by the audience.
This information helps select a perfect browser OS combination popular among the end-user. Businesses typically choose testing browsers that share more than 5% of traffic. Likewise, traffic statistics and device records are vital for making an informed decision specific to the target audience.
Need of Automation for Cross Browser Testing
Testers are very well aware of the complexities of testing web applications manually. Each combination requires a different script and testing that consumes a lot of time and makes it complicated.
After the introduction of automation, human efforts for application testing have been reduced by around 70%. The remaining action is necessary for creating an initial testing script and selection of grid automation tools. It also includes the execution of automatic testing.
Saves Money and Time of Repetitive Testing
One of the most important reasons behind choosing automatic testing is to avoid repeating the testing. Developers and testers are well aware that cross-browser testing requires repeated tests across multiple devices and platforms. Moreover, testers often get bored or irritated while performing a manual evaluation.
Automation is the most viable solution to avoid repetitive testing. It helps save valuable time and improves the overall revenue on testing by reducing automation’s upfront cost. However, it is essential to note that automated testing only tests applications as board the script. Blueprints are required to test the script carefully to ensure it comprises all possible combinations.
Facilitate Continuous Multiple Testing
Automatic testing is more efficient in regression testing or executing multiple tests after implementing a new code. This testing facilitates faster shipping of the code and the introduction of the application in the market.
Automation cuts down a significant amount of testing time and makes. Besides, it is easier for the development team to fix any technical issues. Implementation of the features is also quicker than manual testing. Manual testing is a tedious and complicated task for regression testing. It becomes more difficult when performed on a day-to-day basis. Also, manual testing extends the application development time and affects the consistency of the code.
Offers Better Testing Coverage
Web application testing comprises different types of tests, some of which are short while others are long, depending on the platform’s functionality and feature. The duration of a test makes a significant impact on the entire cross-browser testing process. End to end testing are longer and challenging in manual mode. Above all, it not only consumes more time but also requires more effort.
With the help of automation testing, developers can quickly eliminate the need for human resources and efforts. For instance, automation can complete month-long testing in nearly 10 minutes, making it the most suitable testing application.
Enhance Test Accuracy
At times even experienced developers and testers tend to make mistakes while testing applications manually. Similarly, automation facilitates more precise testing with a detailed report. Comprehensive information allows testers to evaluate the testing procedure and develop new automation tests to manage complex features.
Additional Benefits of Automation
Automation also has several additional benefits for cross-browser testing. Following are the benefits of using an efficient automatic cross-browser testing tool:
Testing In Native Language
With the support of an automation tool, developers can test the web application in the desired language like Ruby, C#, Java, Python, and more.
Eliminates the Need for Test Infrastructure on the System
Modern testing grids do not require the support of a specific test in the structure of the system. These tools can perform tests on the cloud.
Faster Elimination of Bugs
Features like screenshots and live recording help share the testing procedure with other departments and teammates. It enables faster identification and elimination of bugs in an application. The benefits of automation techniques clearly show how it can improve the cross-browser testing approach.
Running cross-browser testing ensures that a web application is responsive and efficient. It allows the development team to fix potential issues and bugs effortlessly. Currently, there are dozens of browsers and an equal number of device and platform combinations. With the help of automatic cross-browser testing, one can quickly test an application for all possible combinations.
LambdaTest: A powerful platform to Test the Cross-Browser Compatibility of Your Website
LambdaTest is a platform to test the cross-browser compatibility of a website in the Selenium environment. This platform uses automation testing so that you can test your website in a secure and scalable Selenium Grid. The testers can also use the Selenium script to automatically test their websites and software on thousands of Browsers and devices. A recent survey suggests that millions of companies worldwide use LambdaTest to perform cross-browser testing on web applications. In simple terms, the developers can use LambdaTest to deliver high-quality websites to their end-users quickly. The cloud-based service ensures that you can test your website on devices that have just been released to the market. LambdaTest also offers various attractive plans to support the growth of small start-up companies. Thus, we can conclude that LambdaTest is your one-stop solution to all cross-browser testing needs.
Every enterprise would admit that cross-browser testing is vital for the successful launch of web apps. However, many organizations are still dependent upon manual approaches for testing their web applications that require a larger team of developers and testers. Contrarily, automation helps to eliminate futile resources and effort. This article gives a complete insight into cross-browser testing and its benefits.
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