How do you feel when an application on your device starts breaking but it works just fine on your friend’s smartphone? You reload the browser for browser check and wait for the website to load. When it does, it does not feel right. All the features are not visible or you cannot click them.



Eventually, you will find yourself in the middle of two roads:



 1. Consider that the site is facing an issue and maybe come back later. OR



2. Look for another site as this one is broken.



Such incidents are probably the first encounters of compatibility challenges. Even though most of the web browsers adhere to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_standards" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Open Web Standards</a> and render HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, it does not guarantee constant performance throughout browsers.



Enters Cross Browser Testing, a comprehensive way of finding and fixing compatibility bottlenecks. Browser check for compatibility ensures that your audience is not alienated from the amazing features of your web app–simply because it didn&#8217;t work on their device. Before moving on to how to check browser compatibility ,we can go through the need of responsiveness.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#The_Need_For_Responsiveness">1 The Need For Responsiveness</a></li><li><a href="#What_Is_Covered_Under_Cross_Browser_Compatibility_Testing">2 What Is Covered Under Cross Browser Compatibility Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Check_Browser_Compatibility">3 How to Check Browser Compatibility?</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusionnbsp">4 Conclusion:&nbsp;</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="the-need-for-responsiveness">The Need For Responsiveness</h2>



Responsiveness is the ability of an application to adapt according to any screen resolution or size. The need for responsiveness has become of utmost importance ever since the rise in mobile web use.&nbsp;



A <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/330695/number-of-smartphone-users-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">report by Statista</a> has revealed that there would be around 4 billion smartphone users by 2021. This has urged the application developers to ensure that their website serves equally well on all kinds of web browsers and OS versions.



Along with the browser, the “<a href="https://www.w3schools.com/css/css_rwd_viewport.asp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Viewport</a>” is also a key aspect of cross browser compatibility testing as it plays a critical role in how the application will display. If an app ill-performs due to browser or viewport – the user experience is severely hampered.



<h2 id="what-is-covered-under-cross-browser-compatibility-testing">What Is Covered Under Cross Browser Compatibility Testing?</h2>



If you’re targeting compatibility testing, you would have to check the website for literally everything.&nbsp;



However, you might not always have the right amount of time for that.



To maximize test coverage and get it done the first time, a specification list comes in handy. This list guides you on the areas to test, the browsers, versions, operating systems to consider, the benchmarks to meet, as well as time and budget allocation.



<h2 id="how-to-check-browser-compatibility">How to Check Browser Compatibility?</h2>



Here is your comprehensive roadmap to cross browser testing:



Begin With Chrome



A recent report by W3Counter revealed that <a href="https://www.w3counter.com/globalstats.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">65.3% of the global web browser </a>market share belonged to Chrome. So, Chrome is your go-to browser when you flag off compatibility testing. Perform all the design and functionality tests on Chrome first in order to have a better picture of how the application is intended to behave in front of the end-user.



Shortlist Your Browsers



Rather than merely going with your instincts, it is recommended to choose the browsers on some logical grounds. Prioritize testing the browser-OS combinations that are most popular among your target audience. Check out <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/cross-browser-compatibility-testing-what-browsers-you-should-test/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">this post for comprehensive details</a> on choosing the right web browsers.



Test The Primary Feature



Ensure that the key functionality of the application performs well on all the possible browser-OS combinations. The main areas you should consider for testing are:



<ul class="list_style_disc"><li>Menu bars and dialog boxes function as desired</li><li>Form fields are populated correctly</li><li>Application syncs well with cookies</li><li>Ensure inputs are seamless for all device types</li></ul>



Utilize Automation Testing



It is a no brainer that there’s a lot to test when checking cross browser compatibility for websites. If you <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/blog/cross-browser-testing-manual-vs-automated-browser-testing/" target="_blank">intend to manually tes</a>t across all the possible environments, you will end up draining a lot of resources. Eventually, automated cross browser testing is a practical approach in order to implement continuous testing along with continuous delivery. You may <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/blog/6-steps-automate-cross-browser-testing-continuous-delivery/" target="_blank">read this post to get started with automated cross browser testing</a>.



Infrastructure



You need a variety of devices to track and audit the application behavior when browsers are running on different operating systems. You would be choosing either of the following ways when setting up your cross browser testing infrastructure:&nbsp;



<ul><li>Use emulators or simulators and test browsers on these. Although you will heavily slice down the costs, these virtual machines are not scalable, and unreliable.</li><li>If you do not have any budget constraints and can procure real devices and keep them updated &amp; running over time, you may set up your dedicated device lab.&nbsp;</li><li>The final and highly recommended way is to utilize a cloud-based testing infrastructure that can enable you to run tests on a remote lab of devices and browsers. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/automated-cross-browser-testing-tool" target="_blank"></a></li></ul>



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/automated-cross-browser-testing-tool" target="_blank">Testsigma </a>is a renowned <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/blog/cloud-based-cross-browser-testing-tools-advantages/" target="_blank">automated cross browser testing tool</a> that helps you to easily create and run tests for your applications. The cloud-based tool offers a wide range of 1000+ desktop browsers as well as real iOS and Android device browsers.



Accessibility



The <a href="http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/disability-and-health" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">World Health Organization</a> (WHO) revealed that 15% of the global population have a disability, making accessibility testing a critical aspect of app testing. Aim for compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) in order to cater to the custom needs of the differently-abled users. 



Responsiveness



When auditing the <a aria-label="responsiveness of the application (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/blog/how-to-test-responsive-web-design-cross-browser-compatibility/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">responsiveness of the application</a>, consider how your end-users would access the application &#8211; this information, along with the data from the <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/selecting-a-cross-browser-testing-tool-questions-to-ask/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Test on the Right Devices</a> report will help you shortlist the target web browsers.







<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="945" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Infographic-for-Here-is-How-to-check-browser-compatibility-for-website-BLOG.png" alt="Testsigma Cross Browser Combatibility Testing" class="wp-image-14480"/></figure>



<h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion:&nbsp;</h2>



Cross browser testing can be quite daunting for a QA engineer. The biggest pain is accessing all possible devices and browser versions on which the app might run. If you need a comprehensive tool which can cater to all your testing requisites and ensure compatibility across devices and browsers, <a href="https://testsigma.com/cross-browser-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Testsigma, an automated cross browser testing tool </a>is the best bang for your buck. With the ease of writing automated tests and ability to test over 2000+ browsers, Testsigma stands out as a one-stop tool for cross browser testing. 



<div class="bg-primary cta">

Checkout the tool for free 
<div class="d-flex mb-1" style="justify-content:space-evenly">
 <button class="btn cta-btn bg-white"><a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Signup now</a></button></div>
</div>

How to check browser compatibility for website

Check Browser Compatibility For A Website – A How-To Blog

It is vital for any business or software to provide a great user experience to a broader user base. An application should work on different devices like mobile, laptop, tablets, and smart televisions according to the purpose of the application. Also, all possible browsers and OS combinations possible. In case the application does not support an environment then it should provide the basic functionality with minimum features. In this way, we will be able to make the application functional for all the targeted users.&nbsp;How can we achieve this? We can do so by focusing on Cross Browser compatibility issues.&nbsp;



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#How_to_Avoid_Cross_Browser_Compatibility_Issues">1 How to Avoid Cross Browser Compatibility Issues?</a><ul><li><a href="#1_Validate_HTML_and_CSS">1.1 1. Validate HTML and CSS</a></li><li><a href="#2_Maintain_Layout_Compatibility">1.2 2. Maintain Layout Compatibility</a></li><li><a href="#3_Use_CSS_Resets">1.3 3. Use CSS Resets</a></li><li><a href="#4_Provide_Support_for_Basic_Features_of_the_Application">1.4 4. Provide Support for Basic Features of the Application</a></li><li><a href="#5_Check_JavaScript_Issues_to_avoid_the_Cross-Browser_compatibility_issues">1.5 5. Check JavaScript Issues to avoid the Cross-Browser compatibility issues</a></li><li><a href="#6_Check_DOCTYPE_tag">1.6 6. Check DOCTYPE tag</a></li><li><a href="#7_Test_on_Real_Devices_to_Avoid_Cross-Browser_Compatibility_Issues">1.7 7. Test on Real Devices to Avoid Cross-Browser Compatibility Issues</a></li><li><a href="#8_Use_Frameworks_and_Libraries_that_Support_Cross-Browser_Compatibility">1.8 8. Use Frameworks and Libraries that Support Cross-Browser Compatibility</a></li><li><a href="#9_Cross-Browser_Compatibility_Test_Early">1.9 9. Cross-Browser Compatibility Test Early</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">2 Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">3 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#How_do_I_fix_Cross-Browser_Compatibility_Issues">3.1 How do I fix Cross-Browser Compatibility Issues?</a></li><li><a href="#How_Does_Selenium_Handle_Cross-Browser_Compatibility_Issues">3.2 How Does Selenium Handle Cross-Browser Compatibility Issues?</a></li><li><a href="#How_do_I_ensure_browser_compatibility">3.3 How do I ensure browser compatibility?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="how-to-avoid-cross-browser-compatibility-issues">How to Avoid Cross Browser Compatibility Issues?</h2>



To avoid Cross Browser compatibility issues in the production environment we can follow below points-



<h3 id="h-1-validate-html-and-css">1. Validate HTML and CSS</h3>



Different browsers read, interpret, and handle the code differently. It is quite expected that developers may omit certain ‘closing tag’ or ‘semicolon’ in the syntax while writing code. While most of the browsers may auto-correct such syntax errors few older browsers may not do so. Such errors may pose problems while rendering for old browsers like Internet Explorer.&nbsp;Read here about <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/internet-explorer-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Internet Explorer Testing</a>



While coding such errors can be avoided by adopting the below steps &#8211;



<ul><li>Writing well-aligned code</li><li>Inserting comments wherever required</li><li>Indentation and matching the opening-closing braces</li></ul>



Also, to make it easier there are validation tools available in the market. To handle such situations developers use the below tools for code validation-



<ul><li>W3C HTML validator</li><li>Jigsaw CSS validator</li><li>JS Formatter for HTML</li><li>CSS Lint</li><li>JS Lint</li></ul>







<h3 id="2-maintain-layout-compatibility">2. Maintain Layout Compatibility</h3>



We need a responsive application which works on all devices, platforms, and browsers including all versions. The layout of the application should appear perfect and standard in all the environments where it will be used after release.



Read more on <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/blog/how-to-test-responsive-web-design-cross-browser-compatibility/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cross-Browser compatibility testing of responsive applications</a>.



The reasons for layout incompatibility can be &#8211;



<ul><li>The layout design is unresponsive on mobile devices.</li><li>Differences in the rendering of layout design by modern browsers.</li><li>Modern browsers do not support some layouts.</li></ul>



&nbsp;Methods to maintain layout compatibility-



<ul><li>HTML viewport metatag&#8211; It ensures that the content is properly spanned across a mobile screen.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>CSS Multi-Column layouts&#8211; It helps in maintaining the proper layout of multiple column content according to the layout of the container.</li><li>CSS Flexbox and Grid&#8211; These techniques help in laying out child elements based on their content and the space available for rendering.</li></ul>







<h3 id="3-use-css-resets">3. Use CSS Resets</h3>



Browsers have a default design layout which is applied to the website running on them. In order to apply another design layout to the application, developers need to override the default design. If this is not done then the same application will be rendered differently on different browsers.&nbsp;



This CSS reset is done in code by using CSS reset style sheets by developers. This way any layout design issue can be avoided.



Examples of CSS reset style sheets are-



<ul><li>Github based Normalize.css</li><li>HTML5 Reset</li><li>Eric Meyer’s Reset CSS</li></ul>



<h3 id="4-provide-support-for-basic-features-of-the-application">4. Provide Support for Basic Features of the Application</h3>



We should cross-check the application for providing the native features across different sets of browsers. If a browser doesn&#8217;t support the code then our application should be in a position to provide a different set of code which will run on that particular browser. This will ensure that the application’s basic features are available to the users in any case.



This concept is called feature detection where we are safeguarding the application against an event where the browser doesn&#8217;t support the code. Therefore we provide an alternate code to run on the browser to provide a seamless experience for the user. Additionally, to ensure a smooth and efficient user experience across all browsers, testing with a reliable cross-browser automation tool like Testsigma can help identify potential issues before they arise in production.



We can implement feature detection in code by-



<ul><li>Write your own feature detection code for CSS and JavaScript.</li><li>Use feature detection libraries- e.g. <a href="https://modernizr.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Modernizr</a>, Polyfill, etc.</li></ul>







<h3 id="5-check-javascript-issues-to-avoid-the-cross-browser-compatibility-issues">5. Check JavaScript Issues to avoid the Cross-Browser compatibility issues</h3>



Below steps can be taken to avoid the Cross-Browser compatibility issues related to JavaScript-



<ul><li>Judicious use of JavaScript library, to make sure that the library supports browsers and features of the application.</li><li>JavaScript code using the latest features of ES6/ECMAScript may not work on older browsers. JavaScript Transpiling converts the ES6/ECMAScript based code into a code which can run on older browsers as well.</li></ul>



<h3 id="6-check-doctype-tag">6. Check DOCTYPE tag</h3>



The DOCTYPE keyword is used to define the rules we want to use in the code. We should define DOCTYPE in the code so that the web browser knows the rules and does not go haywire.



Older versions of Internet Explorer check for the DOCTYPE tag at the beginning of the code. If the tag is not found then the application is not properly rendered.



A browser works in three modes they are-



<ul><li>Full standard mode- There are stricter checks by the browser in full standard mode. Browser checks for the errors according to the W3C specifications.</li><li>Almost standard mode- A very few quirks are implemented.</li><li>Quirk mode- It provides backward compatibility to older browsers. In a quirk, mode browsers do not perform error checks. The layout emulates non-standard behaviour.</li></ul>



Therefore when a code misses a DOCTYPE tag the browser moves to quirk mode and then stops performing error checks and behaves in a non-standard manner. Hence, it is important to add the DOCTYPE tag at the beginning of the code.



<h3 id="7-test-on-real-devices-to-avoid-cross-browser-compatibility-issues">7. Test on Real Devices to Avoid Cross-Browser Compatibility Issues</h3>



Although we can test an application on virtual machines and environments. For more effective testing real devices are the perfect platform. To avoid Cross-Browser compatibility issues later we should test the application on real desktops, mobiles, tablets, and laptops. 



To set up a real device lab manually is impossible, in such cases we take the help of <a href="https://testsigma.com/cross-browser-testing-tools" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cross-Browser testing tools</a>. While there are tools that let you execute your cross browser test cases manually or lets you automate them and then execute them, you need to decide what is it that you need. Testsigma, an automated cross browser testing tool, provides immediate access to thousands of browser-OS combinations to the users. You can run test cases in parallel across the real devices in less time. You may choose from the thousands of environments available on the cloud or test on the local machines present in our office premises.



Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/mobile-compatibility-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mobile Compatibility Testing</a>



<h3 id="8-use-frameworks-and-libraries-that-support-cross-browser-compatibility">8. Use Frameworks and Libraries that Support Cross-Browser Compatibility</h3>



We should use frameworks and libraries which are standard and which support Cross-Browser compatibility to make our life easier.



1. For JavaScript :



<ul><li>jQuery</li><li>AngularJS</li><li>ReactJS</li></ul>



2. For CSS:



<ul><li>Bootstrap</li><li>Foundation</li><li>960 grid</li></ul>



Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/cross-browser-testing-checklist/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cross Browser Compatibility Testing Checklist</a>



<h3 id="9-cross-browser-compatibility-test-early">9. Cross-Browser Compatibility Test Early</h3>



It is advised to start testing as soon as one page of the application is ready to check whether app is cross browser compatible. It will help uncover the compatibility issues early in the development cycle and will be fixed quickly. We should not wait till the later stages of the development cycle to start testing. 



Since Cross-Browser compatibility testing requires test coverage of a number of environments. Hence, we should try to minimise the stress and challenges in the later part of the cycle.



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
Check out a tool that lets you automate your cross browser compatibility testing from the very start.
</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Try Testsigma for Free</a>
</div>



<h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



We will be able to avoid most of the Cross-Browser compatibility issues following the above steps. However, the supporting step for all these precautions is through <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/cross-browser-compatibility-testing-what-browsers-you-should-test/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cross-Browser compatibility testing</a>. For effective testing, we should use automated Cross-Browser compatibility testing tools. 



They are easier to use, provide thousands of environments immediately, provide parallel testing, are scalable, provide testing on real devices, and provide better reporting and logging. Hence, automated Cross-Browser testing tools like Testsigma are essential for effective and faster Cross-Browser compatibility testing of the application.



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
Automate cross-browser tests 5x faster – on the cloud
</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Try Testsigma for Free</a>
</div>



<h2 id="frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



<h3 id="how-do-i-fix-cross-browser-compatibility-issues">How do I fix Cross-Browser Compatibility Issues?</h3>



To address cross-browser compatibility issues, ensure that your website adheres to web standards, utilizes <a href="https://github.com/troxler/awesome-css-frameworks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CSS frameworks</a> like Bootstrap, and tests it on different browsers, making necessary adjustments to code and styles as needed. Automation testing tools like Testsigma offer a comprehensive test automation platform for web, mobile, and desktop applications that ensures cross-browser compatibility with its extensive browser coverage.



<h3 id="how-does-selenium-handle-cross-browser-compatibility-issues">How Does Selenium Handle Cross-Browser Compatibility Issues?</h3>



Selenium handles cross-browser compatibility issues by ensuring that web programs look and perform the same regardless of the browser through which they are visited by employing test scripts written in various programming languages such as PHP, Python, Java, and others.



<h3 id="how-do-i-ensure-browser-compatibility">How do I ensure browser compatibility?</h3>



Browser compatibility is the ability of a website or web application to function correctly in various web browsers, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari. To ensure browser compatibility, developers should test their code across multiple browsers and versions to ensure it works properly for all users. Additionally, developers should use HTML and CSS coding standards supported by all major browsers.



<customlinks>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Check website responsive in chrome</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/how-to-test-responsive-web-design-cross-browser-compatibility/
</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Tips for cross browser compatibility testing</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/7-tips-for-successful-cross-browser-testing/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Cross browser testing tools</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/cross-browser-testing-tools</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Cross browser testing Challenges</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/top-3-challenges-in-cross-browser-testing-and-how-to-tackle-them/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
</customlinks>

How to ensure cross browser compatibility testing

9 Tips to Avoid Cross Browser Compatibility Issues

<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/cross-browser-compatibility-testing-what-browsers-you-should-test/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cross-browser compatibility testing</a> is the most important testing for someone whose business is completely dependent on a website. Take for example an online service provider company. It may have gone through rough testing phases but is there a point in exhausting all your energy when the end-user is not able to communicate with the website properly?



Cross-browser compatibility testing is extremely important for a successful running website where you have one less thing to worry about. Since cross-browser compatibility testing is so important, it should be done with caution and care. 



Similar to any other testing paradigm, developing the software with due consideration to the feedback from testing will always prove to be fruitful in the end. Hence, we have crafted this post in the same direction to provide you with tips on cross-browser compatibility testing. Working your way by keeping these tips in mind will help you design a website that is partially compatible even before testing. <gwmw style="display: none; background-color: transparent;"><gwmw style="display: none; background-color: transparent;"><gwmw style="display: none; background-color: transparent;"><gwmw style="display:none;"><gwmw style="display:none;"></gwmw>Similar to any other testing paradigm, developing the software with due consideration to the feedback from testing will always prove to be fruitful in the end. Hence, we have crafted this post in the same direction to provide you with tips on cross-browser compatibility testing. Working your way by keeping these tips in mind will help you design a website that is partially compatible even before testing.</gwmw></gwmw></gwmw><gwmw style="display:none;">



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Perform_Code_Validation">1 Perform Code Validation</a></li><li><a href="#Build_Browser_Matrix">2 Build Browser Matrix</a></li><li><a href="#Always_Verify_Feature_Support">3 Always Verify Feature Support</a></li><li><a href="#Skip_Unnecessary_Components">4 Skip Unnecessary Components</a></li><li><a href="#Choose_The_Right_Way_To_Test">5 Choose The Right Way To Test</a></li><li><a href="#Encapsulate_Code_In_Framework">6 Encapsulate Code In Framework</a></li><li><a href="#Test_Develop_Test">7 Test Develop Test</a></li><li><a href="#Any_More_Tips">8 Any More Tips?</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="perform-code-validation">Perform Code Validation</h2>



Code validation is a process of determining whether the code written by us is in accordance with the W3C standards or not. This is extremely important as a website developer. Remember how Internet Explorer sank just because they were not following the guidelines? 



Having a validated and well-formatted website will not only make it browser compatible but bring a lot more freebies along with it. Some of them are like improved search engine optimization for better traffic on the website, easy maintenance etc.&nbsp;



To make the website cross-browser compatible, you can check your code using validator tools that can be found on the internet. The text editors also have such functionalities that can highlight the code not compatible with the standards. One such editor that I encountered was Adobe Dreamweaver and it helped me learn best practices in web development too. 



<h2 id="build-browser-matrix">Build Browser Matrix</h2>



A browser matrix is a process of listing down the browsers and their versions for which you are developing the website. It is nearly impossible to satisfy every browser and every version of them even if they are in use. 



A simple reason for this is that browsers reject and accept various CSS and JS properties over time with their new versions. Although this process is gradual in nature, it does happen regularly. For this, you need to decide which browsers are you targeting and the range of their versions.&nbsp;



The best way to finalize a browser matrix is to think about your target audience. If you have a confined audience such as a particular bank whose employees use Firefox 78, then develop accordingly. The general audience gets their browsers updated regularly in the background and hence your browser matrix should also be updated in such cases.



 A browser matrix will help you make a plan about what components to use in your website. This will help you in the end since you will dodge common mistakes of using one deprecated feature of Chrome 70 and one new feature of Chrome 83 etc. 



You can also take help from online cloud-based cross browser compatibility testing tools such as Testsigma that keeps their <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/platforms-browsers-mobile-devices" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">browser configurations</a> updated as they are launched. This will be further discussed later in detail.<gwmw style="display:none;">



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
Automate Tests for Browser compatibility, UI, Visual and Functional in Parallel with Testsigma. No coding required.
</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Try for free</a>
</div>



<h2 id="always-verify-feature-support">Always Verify Feature Support</h2>



Now that we have enlightened ourselves with the validator and building a browser matrix, we need to take care of the components we use on our website. As a developer, we may know a lot of things in development but what we may not know is that the feature is now deprecated or is about to. 



Our habit and practice in the past give birth to our ignorance and we never try to check whether the feature is still in use or not. The result is mind-boggling and leaves us wondering for hours why the feature is not working on the web page.



As a web developer, to build a cross-browser compatible website, you should always check the features on each of the browsers you are targeting. For example, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/CSS_Grid_Layout/Subgrid" target="_blank">CSS Subgrids </a>is supported in Firefox but is not supported in Chrome. There are tons of such features that can hinder your user experience and it is always better to be prepared than to repeat everything again.



<h2 id="skip-unnecessary-components">Skip Unnecessary Components</h2>



A lot of times, developers increase complexities of their website without any end-goal. A good example of the same is designing a lot of functionalities together creating congestion on the landing page. These are unnecessary components in terms of landing page and an enemy of cross-browser compatibility scenarios. 



The problem is simple in such cases. The more the components on a page, the more issues they will create and the more time they would need fixing.&nbsp;



Since components will live in a synchronised environment, a small misalignment of a single element could create chaos on the landing page.To simplify this, take the help of <a href="https://www.emailvendorselection.com/best-landing-page-builders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">free landing page creators</a>, that lets you build customized landing pages effortlessly. Now you are required to adjust all the elements or maybe while adjusting some more elements gets misaligned and the process repeats. Hence, always code only the necessary components to reduce<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/9-tips-to-avoid-cross-browser-compatibility-issues-from-the-start/"> cross-browser compatibility issues.</a><gwmw style="display:none;">



<h2 id="choose-the-right-way-to-test">Choose The Right Way To Test</h2>



The step of choosing the correct way is always a tricky business. A wrong judgement on this part can lead to wastage of time and efforts. Take for example you are developing a ticket reservation website for citizens of your country. Now you want to test it across browsers to satisfy every user’s requirement. 



Can you take time and guess the correct way to go? Since the browser matrix is huge and the audience is very wide, the best way is to choose an online cross-browser testing tool.&nbsp;



An online cross-browser testing tool is like Amazon. In Amazon, you can just order the items sitting at your home. You do not need to go to the shop manually and purchase from the shop. Similarly, online cross-browser tools provide you with the platform which is already set up and connected with the physical infrastructure. 



You do not need to worry about setting up the infrastructure manually. Now you just type the URL, hit enter and the website is launched within seconds. One such tool is Testsigma that has 2000+ browsers and a lot of features to smoothen your testing. There are integrations available which are regularly updated and a matrix of powerful CPUs that can run your website within seconds.



Another way to go is by developing a device lab (which is extremely expensive) or taking the device lab service on rent. In terms of device labs and online tool, I personally believe <a href="https://testsigma.com/tools/responsive-design-testing-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="online tools (opens in a new tab)">online tools</a> are more robust, faster and are lag-free. Although it ultimately boils down to the developers and testers’ preference and personal choice.



<h2 id="encapsulate-code-in-framework">Encapsulate Code In Framework</h2>



A good way to start the development of the website is to select a good framework and build your website in it. Frameworks bring a lot of advantages with them and most of them are free to use. A framework is already optimized for cross-browser issues and will automatically create responsive elements without any hardcode from the developer’s side. 



Frameworks are developed to let the developer worry just about the functionalities and not thinking much about the cross-browser compatibility issues that would arise in other browsers. <gwmw style="display:none;">



<h2 id="test-develop-test">Test Develop Test</h2>



This is the last step in our development process and our struggles to make a cross-browser compatible website. A lot of the time developers and the teams think that once they are completely satisfied and have developed the functionalities, only then you should test. This is the wrong approach as the issues are piled up when we delay them for later stages. The result is delayed-release and more efforts for improvements.



Similar to unit testing, if the website is tested regularly at frequent intervals, it will be very easy for the developers to get faster feedback from the user. With such feedback, there are lesser issues and lesser work to be done on the elements. 



You can save a lot of time and effort with such an approach and plan your future development processes easily. Consider a situation where you are using some CSS property that has been deprecated. It would be better to get the notification earlier into the process rather than changing the complete website. Therefore, test-build-test and keep iterating your plans as the development process moves on.



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
Automate your tests for Web, Mobile, Desktop and APIs on Cloud with Testsigma. No setup time needed.
</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Try for free</a>
</div>



<h2 id="any-more-tips">Any More Tips?</h2>



Cross-browser testing is a necessary job when it comes to website development. At first, it may seem that this is an end process i.e. you develop the website first and then move ahead with testing. It might look logical but creates a huge pile of issues. 



A website is not like the mark sheets that you can check even if piled up. You might notice that some element does not work which has been used exhaustively while development. This comes under bad planning in design and development. We can dodge such scenarios by learning through our experience and keep the above tips in mind.&nbsp;



The tips provided in this post have proved effective with the test of time and it is recommended to follow these. But, these are not the only ones and personal experiences will give birth to a few more that can help other fellow developers/testers. 



Hence, we welcome you to comment on your own experiences and any tips you would want to share with us. We would be more than happy to incorporate those in our post.&nbsp;

7 tips for successful cross browser testing

7 tips for successful cross browser compatibility testing

Cross Browser Compatibility Testing what browsers you should test

Cross Browser Compatibility Testing – What Browsers You should Test?

As the world moves forward, it wants to progress, more efficiency, more speed, and the same is the case with the software development industry. Every software development organization wants to save time, effort, and money at every step possible. Software Testing being a major part of software development also needs more efficiency. Thus, comes automation.&nbsp; 



As regression testing is one of the most time-taking and repetitive activities where software testing is concerned &#8211; automating regression testing ensures a better-quality software at a lower cost and timely release. 



There are plenty of regression testing automation tools available in the market today. But more choice also means more confusion. Thus, it can become difficult for an organization to choose an ideal automated testing tool for performing regression testing. 



Here, we aim to help you figure out just that. The top 5 top features a regression testing automation tool must have today: 



1. Scriptless




Script-based automation where the tester needs to write long test scripts is slowly becoming the history now, as companies are moving towards scriptless regression automation testing tools. Scriptless automation tools save a lot of time that is usually spent on writing code for your regression testing. There are <a href="https://dzone.com/articles/scriptless-testing-is-not-just-record-and-playback" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="multiple ways of scriptless test automation (opens in a new tab)">multiple ways of scriptless test automation </a>and the one which I found the easiest is <a href="https://testsigma.com/regression-testing/automated-regression-testing-tool" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="automating tests in simple English (opens in a new tab)">automating tests in simple English</a>, where it seems as if you were just noting down the tests. I personally have used it and would like to recommend it for its ease of use. Scriptless regression testing tools will not only help you reduce the testing stress, but also improve the work efficiency significantly.



2. Ability to Identify Potential Failures Upfront



A regression testing automation tool should be capable of identifying the affected tests in your automated regression test suite. It helps you create regression test suites with the test cases that have a direct impact on the change in the software. 



3. Self Healing Test AutomationSelf-healing is an important feature that helps ensure that regression testing is being carried out without any friction. In Self-healing test automation, the AI detects abnormalities in the existing code and automatically fixes the changes made in the code to prevent test failures. &nbsp;If you have an agile development team, self-healing is a handy feature for you. This feature alone will help you save a significant amount of time and money.



4. Multiple Test Execution in Parallel



Parallel test executions help in making your testing faster and achieving a quicker turnaround in deployments. Multiple test executions in parallel help in reducing the feedback time significantly. It also helps the testers and developers to dedicate their time and resources on serious problems with cross-platform compatibility. 



5. Simplified Regression Report Generation



A regression testing automation tool must have a reporting functionality to help measure the success or failure of a particular test case and to track the complete details of the test cases including the number of test cases executed, status of each test case, test suite’s visual logs, defect priorities, and screenshot capturing.



An ideal tool not just provides a pass/fail reports, but it provides detailed reports complemented by screenshots, videos, error logs and actionable feedback to help the testers make effective and quick decisions for a quick resolution.



Selecting an appropriate automated testing tool for regression testing is crucial as the functionality and performance of the software are the basic elements for its success. 



There are only a few automation tools which comprise all the listed features above and Testsigma is one of them. It is a scriptless test automation tool for web, mobile, and web services regression testing to help you get started with the automated regression testing instantly. 



It uses AI to identify all the potential failures which help you avoid the manual checking of affected test cases which is both error-prone and time-consuming. 



Testsigma’s Artificial Intelligence is smart enough to locate the elements precisely even with the changes made in the attribute and automatically modify the change made in the source code to prevent the failure of the tests. This helps in reducing your maintenance efforts by 70 percent. 



Testsigma allows you to run thousands of regression tests in parallel on a vast range of cloud and local devices which reduces the feedback time to just a few minutes. 



Testsigma provides you with the comprehensive test reports with a drill-down approach to help you analyse the test results efficiently in quick time. You also get actionable feedback on the failed tests to help take quick action.



All in all, <a href="https://testsigma.com/regression-testing/automated-regression-testing-tool" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Testsigma, an ideal for automated regression testing (opens in a new tab)">Testsigma, an ideal for automated regression testing</a>, has all the essential elements required for automation and execution of your regression test cases. You can get started with the automated regression testing instantly with no coding language requirement. 



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
Perform Regression tests in parallel across 3000+ web and mobile devices in a few clicks, with Testsigma.
</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Try for free</a>
</div>

Top 5 Must Have Features of Regression Testing Automation Tools

Top 5 Must-Have Features of Regression Testing Automation Tools

Responsive Web Design (RWD) is a term that was defined by Ethan Marcotte in 2010, according to which design and development of web pages should be responsive to different screen sizes, platforms, and orientations. It was about how to make a website with good web pages on all devices and size screens.



Earlier, people only had a desktop and a limited number of browsers to surf the internet. Today,<a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/277125/share-of-website-traffic-coming-from-mobile-devices/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> 50 percent of web page views</a> worldwide come from mobile devices. Due to this, having a website that works on mobile used to be an advantage for businesses, but it has become a necessity now to survive in a highly competitive market. Responsive web design is crucial for companies to optimize their website for different screen sizes and resolutions.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_Responsive_Web_Design">1 What is Responsive Web Design?</a><ul><li><a href="#Responsive_web_design_helps_you_to_avoid">1.1 Responsive web design helps you to avoid:</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Key_Components_of_Responsive_Web_Design">2 Key Components of Responsive Web Design</a></li><li><a href="#Importance_of_Responsive_Design_Testing">3 Importance of Responsive Design Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Testing_Responsive_Web_Design">4 Testing Responsive Web Design</a></li><li><a href="#Using_a_Cross_Browser_Testing_Tool">5 Using a Cross Browser Testing Tool</a></li><li><a href="#Testing_Responsiveness_Using_Chrome_Developer_Tools">6 Testing Responsiveness Using Chrome Developer Tools</a></li><li><a href="#Testing_Responsiveness_Using_the_Testsigma_Platform">7 Testing Responsiveness Using the Testsigma Platform</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">8 Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">9 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#How_Can_I_Test_my_Website_Responsiveness">9.1 How Can I Test my Website Responsiveness?</a></li><li><a href="#How_Can_I_Test_my_is_Website_Mobile_Responsive">9.2 How Can I Test my is Website Mobile Responsive?</a></li><li><a href="#Is_Compatibility_Testing_and_Cross-Browser_Testing_Same">9.3 Is Compatibility Testing and Cross-Browser Testing Same?</a></li><li><a href="#Can_We_Do_Responsive_Web_Design_Testing_Using_Selenium">9.4 Can We Do Responsive Web Design Testing Using Selenium?</a></li><li><a href="#What_Kind_of_Testing_is_Important_in_Responsive_Design">9.5 What Kind of Testing is Important in Responsive Design?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_3_Components_of_Responsive_Web_Design">9.6 What are the 3 Components of Responsive Web Design?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="what-is-responsive-web-design">What is Responsive Web Design?</h2>



Responsive web design is an approach to designing and creating websites optimized for viewing on different devices with different screen sizes. It is achieved through flexible layouts, images, and media queries that adapt the layout and content of the website to the user&#8217;s screen size. For example, a responsive website might display a three-column layout on a desktop but switch to a single-column layout on mobile. By using responsive web design techniques, websites can provide a consistent and user-friendly experience regardless of the device used to view the website.&nbsp;



<h3 id="responsive-web-design-helps-you-to-avoid">Responsive web design helps you to avoid:</h3>



1. If you have a separate mobile site for your web design, you risk creating duplicate content that can affect search engine rankings.



2. It can be difficult to update the desktop and mobile sites, which can take time and effort.



3. A separate mobile site can give users a bad experience by not providing all the features available on the desktop site.



4. A separate mobile site can be more expensive to deploy and maintain than a responsive website&nbsp;



<h2 id="key-components-of-responsive-web-design">Key Components of Responsive Web Design</h2>



Here are the three key components of responsive web design &#8211;&nbsp;



1. Layout: Layout is the first thing to look at while building a responsive website so that it can easily be resized to any width dynamically 2. Media: The next important aspect of a fully responsive website is media, i.e. images or videos. It is crucial to ensure that the media change their size or resolution according to the requirement 3. Typography: Typography is another important part which is usually ignored by the developers. The font size should be related to the width of its parent container to be easily adaptable and readable on mobile devices



 <button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-cross-browser-testing-tool" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff"> Get started on your low-code cross-browser testing automation journey today </a></button> 



<h2 id="importance-of-responsive-design-testing">Importance of Responsive Design Testing</h2>



Responsive design testing is critical in today&#8217;s environment when people view websites on a wide range of devices with varying screen sizes and resolutions. We ensure your website shows and functions correctly on all devices, offering the optimum user experience. Responsive design testing also aids in identifying and correcting flaws in website layout, content, and functioning. This enables firms to reach more customers and boost their online visibility.



<h2 id="testing-responsive-web-design">Testing Responsive Web Design</h2>



We are living in a world, where we all are using smart devices which means any user can access any website from anywhere via their devices. As <a href="https://www.netreputation.com/website-design-development/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">responsive web design</a> is critical for the enterprises, responsive testing is equally important to verify that your web applications are visually and functionally working smoothly on different browsers.



Here are a few key things that you should <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/how-to-get-started-with-browser-testing-at-the-earliest/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test under browser </a>testing:



<ul class="list_style_disc"><li>HTML validation</li><li>CSS validation</li><li>Ajax and Jquery functionality</li><li>Page layout in different resolutions</li><li>Page and Font size validations</li><li>Image and page content alignment</li><li>Date formats</li><li>Header and footer sections</li></ul>



In order to ensure that the code and design choices you have made don’t affect the users negatively, cross-browser testing is crucial. Manually testing across all the test environments consumes a lot of time and resources. Also, it is next to impossible to implement Continuous Testing and Continuous Delivery with the manual testing only.



If you want that it doesn’t impact your deadline, it is best to use an automated cross browser testing tool.&nbsp;



<h2 id="using-a-cross-browser-testing-tool">Using a Cross Browser Testing Tool</h2>



<a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/cross-browser-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cross browser testing</a> is challenging for a software tester. Some of the main challenges in testing cross browser compatibility include: 



1. Lack of testing on real devices



2. Vendor-Specific functions



3. HTML/CSS Validation



4. Faulty rendering issues



5. Layout compatibility issues



But there are several cross browser testing tools available in the market which fight these challenges and reduce your testing efforts. The tools give you the viewing experience of your website without using an actual device. They provide you with the devices along with their viewport sizes for verifying the responsiveness of your web application on different browsers.



You have to input your website, select the devices of your choice and you can see how your website is responding on your selected device. Cross-browser testing tools are very helpful when you are starting your testing, gathering all the ideas creating scenarios, and the different areas you need to focus on.



Each <a href="https://testsigma.com/cross-browser-testing-tools" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cross-browser testing tool </a>comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. It is wise to select a tool based on your requirements.



<h2 id="testing-responsiveness-using-chrome-developer-tools">Testing Responsiveness Using Chrome Developer Tools</h2>



To test responsiveness using Chrome Developer Tools:



<ul><li>Go to the website you wish to test in Google Chrome.</li><li>Choose Inspect from the context menu by right-clicking anywhere on the web page.</li><li>This will launch the Chrome developer tools. Toggle the device toolbar by clicking the Toggle Device Toolbar icon in the top left corner of the window or using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + M (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + M (Mac).</li><li>This toggles the view to responsive mode, allowing you to preview how your website will appear on various devices. You may test how your site works on different screen sizes by selecting a device from the dropdown list or adjusting the screen resolution.</li><li>You may also test the responsiveness of your website by rotating the screen orientation.</li><li>Inspect your CSS and HTML code using inspection tools and make the required modifications to make your website completely responsive.</li><li>After testing, click the Toggle Device Toolbar button again or use the same keyboard shortcut to leave responsive mode.</li></ul>



<h2 id="testing-responsiveness-using-the-testsigma-platform">Testing Responsiveness Using the Testsigma Platform</h2>



<a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-cross-browser-testing-tool" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma, a cross-browser testing tool</a>, is a one-stop platform for all your cross-browser testing needs. It allows you to check your web application on 2000+ real and desktop, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, and Edge browsers.



With no coding skills required, it lets you write automated testing in simple English and automate your tests five times faster. Additionally, with its cloud-based test lab, you can create and execute many test environments in parallel to save time and effort and get quick feedback. 



It also provides seamless CI/CD integrations for Agile and Continuous Delivery teams to integrate into the delivery pipeline. It meets all your end-to-end testing requirements to make your cross-browser testing more accessible and more efficient.



<div class="bg-primary cta">

Test Mobile and Web app’s compatibility across 3000+ platforms, OS, and browser combinations in parallel
<div class="d-flex mb-1" style="justify-content:space-evenly">
 <button class="btn cta-btn bg-white"><a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Signup for the tool</a></button></div>
</div>



<h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



In conclusion, responsive design testing is crucial to website testing since it guarantees that your website appears and operates appropriately across all devices. Chrome developer tools make it simple and easy to evaluate website responsiveness, assisting developers in identifying and correcting issues with layout, content, or functionality. On the other hand, automating the testing process saves time and costs. It guarantees its websites are entirely responsive and optimized for all devices using a complete testing solution like Testsigma



<h2 id="frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



<h3 id="how-can-i-test-my-website-responsiveness">How Can I Test my Website Responsiveness?</h3>



Test the browser responsiveness it is required to use of a browser testing tool because it requires testing whether or not a website it accessible in all combinations of operating systems and browsers. A responsiveness testing tool will run a website in various combinations of operating systems and browsers and ensures it’s accessible. &nbsp;&nbsp;



<h3 id="how-can-i-test-my-is-website-mobile-responsive">How Can I Test my is Website Mobile Responsive?</h3>



To test whether your website is mobile responsive or not you have to perform cross-browser compatibility testing. In cross-browser compatibility testing, a testing tool like Testsigma is used which tests your website in various combinations of operating and browsers. During the testing process layout, alignment, and accessibility of the website will be getting tested to ensure it’s responsive on all mobile devices.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h3 id="is-compatibility-testing-and-cross-browser-testing-same">Is Compatibility Testing and Cross-Browser Testing Same?</h3>



Cross-bowser testing is the subset of compatibility testing, it is performed during the process of compatibility testing. Compatibility testing shows how our website works with various hardware and software, whereas cross-browser testing is about ensuring our website is responsive in all combinations of operating systems and browsers.&nbsp;



<h3 id="can-we-do-responsive-web-design-testing-using-selenium">Can We Do Responsive Web Design Testing Using Selenium?</h3>



Yes, we can do the responsivness testing using the selenium. It provide Selenium grid which is specially made for running the test cases in various combination of operating systems and browsers. Using this we can test our website responsiveness in various combination of operating systems and browsers.



<h3 id="what-kind-of-testing-is-important-in-responsive-design">What Kind of Testing is Important in Responsive Design?</h3>



These are some of important testing in the responsive design testing:



<ul><li>Cross browser testing- Working properly across all browsers.</li><li>User interface testing- User interface is not breaking in too smaller or larger devices.</li><li>Fall back testing- Your website is able to rendering into all the browsers even if you are using a newly supported HTML tags or css selectors for designing.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h3 id="what-are-the-3-components-of-responsive-web-design">What are the 3 Components of Responsive Web Design?</h3>



Component of responsive web design are the following:



<ul><li>The media quarry is working properly for all the size of screens</li><li>Ensuring the website is accessible in all the web browsers&nbsp;</li><li>User interface design is responsive all across the devices</li></ul>



<customlinks>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Responsive Web Design Testing</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/tools/responsive-design-testing-tools/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Cross browser testing tools</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/cross-browser-testing-tools</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Responsive website design testing checklist</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/responsive-design-testing-checklist/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
</customlinks>

How to Test Responsive Web Design Cross Browser Compatibility

How to Check Responsive Website in Chrome?

Every mobile application, irrespective of its category, has a common goal of creating an impeccable user experience. App users want to see something new and innovative. And even though the great user experience is the most important, it only comes with quality.&nbsp;&nbsp;To make your mobile app work efficiently, make sure these mobile app testing checklists are followed.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Checklist_for_Mobile_App_Testing">1 Checklist for Mobile App Testing</a><ul><li><a href="#1Test_your_app_for_cross-platform_Compatibility">1.1 1.Test your app for cross-platform Compatibility</a></li><li><a href="#2Test_your_app_against_all_possible_settings_and_configurations">1.2 2.Test your app against all possible settings and configurations</a></li><li><a href="#3Base_your_test_cases_on_the_type_of_app_you_are_testing">1.3 3.Base your test cases on the type of app you are testing</a></li><li><a href="#4Test_the_GUI_of_your_app_thoroughly">1.4 4.Test the GUI of your app thoroughly</a></li><li><a href="#5Test_your_app_for_back-enddatabase-related_functionalities">1.5 5.Test your app for back-end/database-related functionalities</a></li><li><a href="#6Test_your_app_for_all_positive_and_negative_test_cases_around_storagememory_in_use">1.6 6.Test your app for all positive and negative test cases around storage/memory in use</a></li><li><a href="#7Test_your_app_on_all_types_of_networks_that_the_users_may_use_on_it">1.7 7.Test your app on all types of networks that the users may use on it</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#8Accessibility_and_Usability_Testing">2 8.Accessibility and Usability Testing</a><ul><li><a href="#9Test_your_mobile_app_for_the_user_journeys_8211_the_path_a_real_user_might_take_while_using_your_app">2.1 9.Test your mobile app for the user journeys &#8211; the path a real user might take while using your app</a></li><li><a href="#10Make_sure_your_app_is_safe_and_secure_for_the_users">2.2 10.Make sure your app is safe and secure for the users</a></li><li><a href="#Mobile_App_Automation">2.3 Mobile App Automation</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">3 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_are_the_Basic_checks_to_be_performed_while_testing_on_mobile">3.1 What are the Basic checks to be performed while testing on mobile?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_the_main_checklist_point_of_mobile_app_testing">3.2 What is the main checklist point of mobile app testing?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="checklist-for-mobile-app-testing">Checklist for Mobile App Testing</h2>



To ensure quality, mobile app testing is essential. In this blog, we will discuss a step-by-step mobile app testing checklist. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="800" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/17164221/Mobile-App-Checklist.png" alt="" class="wp-image-53890" srcset="https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/17164221/Mobile-App-Checklist.png 1200w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/17164221/Mobile-App-Checklist-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



<h3 id="h-1-test-your-app-for-cross-platform-compatibility">1.Test your app for cross-platform Compatibility</h3>



Your Android application may run fine on Oreo (Android 10), but the same might not be true with Marshmallow(Android 6.0). This is where <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/cross-platform-end-to-end-testing-explained-with-real-life-scenarios/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cross-platform testing</a> comes into the picture.&nbsp;



You should test your application on all the possible combinations of operating systems, screen sizes and resolutions that the app users might be using. This ensures that the app will behave uniformly across all devices.



Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/compatibility-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Compatibility Testing</a>



<h3 id="2-test-your-app-against-all-possible-settings-and-configurations">2.Test your app against all possible settings and configurations</h3>



A mobile app interacts with many features – both in-app and mobile device based. The app should be compatible with all the possible settings and configurations. These may include screen resolution, orientation, different versions of operating systems, camera, motion sensor, etc.&nbsp;



<h3 id="3-base-your-test-cases-on-the-type-of-app-you-are-testing">3.Base your test cases on the type of app you are testing</h3>



A mobile app generally falls under three categories &#8211; native, web, and hybrid.



i. Web app testing : 



Optimized for mobile browsing and server-driven, the web apps should be tested for UI to ensure all the app elements are aligned for different screens and resolutions. Since the mobile apps have limited storage space and power supply, test for memory and battery usage. Avoid excessive usage of JavaScript&nbsp; &#8211; this might drain the mobile’s battery.



ii. Native and Hybrid app testing : 



Although driven by different technologies, native and hybrid apps share similar functionality and hence, their approach to testing. Functional testing is the key player here&nbsp; &#8211; run functional tests to validate key aspects such as screen orientation, gestures, compatibility, connectivity, performance, and interruptions such as calls and push notifications.



Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/native-apps-vs-hybrid-app/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Native App vs Hybrid App</a>



<h3 id="4-test-the-gui-of-your-app-thoroughly">4.Test the GUI of your app thoroughly</h3>



Front-end testing validates the features available on the UI of an app &#8211; testers check the functionality of the mobile app’s GUI. This includes testing the menus, dropdowns, navigation buttons, and gestures, forms, and other features used by the end user.&nbsp;



<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/front-end-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Front-end testing</a> will ensure that the app under test will perform on different browsers and devices. Perform unit, regression, performance, integration, and acceptance tests on the app for comprehensive front-end testing.



<h3 id="5-test-your-app-for-back-end-database-related-functionalities">5.Test your app for back-end/database-related functionalities</h3>



Back-end or <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/database-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">database testing</a> deals with the server side of the mobile app. Today, most mobile apps are API-driven. Data is populated via REST APIs displayed in the UI. Use a proxy to track the app’s requests and responses. Perform SQL, performance, and security testing to prevent deadlock, data loss, etc.



<h3 id="6-test-your-app-for-all-positive-and-negative-test-cases-around-storage-memory-in-use">6.Test your app for all positive and negative test cases around storage/memory in use</h3>



Mobile users want to have all their essential apps on the go. However, the devices do not have enough storage to fulfill the need of installing high-resolution apps.&nbsp;



Keep an eye on the app size with every release. You should not be in a situation where the end-user might not download the app only because of its large size.



<h3 id="7-test-your-app-on-all-types-of-networks-that-the-users-may-use-on-it">7.Test your app on all types of networks that the users may use on it</h3>



Run the app on different network conditions to measure its performance under weak signal and data transition. To <a href="https://www.solarwinds.com/network-performance-monitor" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test for network performance</a>, consider the following aspects:



<p id="i-jittersoccurs-during-a-delay-in-data-collection-as-the-data-travels-in-the-form-of-packets-these-packets-may-disperse-while-moving-from-the-sender-to-the-receiver-hence-the-data-becomes-scrambled-and-this-is-called-jitters-in-such-cases-the-app-should-notify-the-user-to-either-resend-the-data-or-wait-for-the-system-to-respond">i. Jitters Occurs during a delay in data collection. As the data travels in packets, these packets may disperse while moving from the sender to the receiver. Hence, the data becomes scrambled, and this is called jitters. In such cases, the app should notify the user to either resend the data or wait for the system to respond.



ii. Packet Loss During complete packet loss, ensure the app resends the data request or notify the end-user. Rather than keeping the user waiting, the app should prompt the app user to try again.



iii. Network Speed and Type Network speeds vary from time to time &#8211; ideally, this should not hamper the user experience. Check the app on different networks and speeds. Validate how the app behaves when the mobile app moves from mobile data to WiFi and vice versa.



<h2 id="h-8-accessibility-and-usability-testing">8.Accessibility and Usability Testing</h2>



<ul><li>Accessibility: Ensure compatibility with assistive technologies (screen readers, keyboard navigation).</li><li>Usability: Validate intuitive navigation, clear labeling, error handling, and overall user experience.</li></ul>



<h3 id="9-test-your-mobile-app-for-the-user-journeys-the-path-a-real-user-might-take-while-using-your-app">9.Test your mobile app for the user journeys &#8211; the path a real user might take while using your app</h3>



A good mobile app flow is the one that needs no explanation and can be understood on the first go. The user flow can vary based on how the app responds to different devices and operating systems.



For example, to log in to an app, a user may choose from fingerprint, face identification, or login via username and password. Validate all the possible capabilities to ensure the best possible digital experience to the users.



Now, Testsigma supports inspection as well as execution of your <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-cases-for-mobile-application/">mobile test cases</a> without any kind of setup at your end. 



<h3 id="10-make-sure-your-app-is-safe-and-secure-for-the-users">10.Make sure your app is safe and secure for the users</h3>



Due to the diverse operating system components, mobile app security can look quite intimidating. However, you can follow these common steps to mobile app security.



i. Secure the source code and database



ii. Perform Input Validation



iii. Perform Penetration Testing



iv. Use Cryptography



v. Prevent Client Side Injection



vi. Implement HTTPS – SSL/TLS Security Layer



vii. Protect Local Storage Data



<h3 id="mobile-app-automation">Mobile App Automation</h3>



Automation can increase the productivity of your testing process by manifolds. Tools like <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma </a>enable you to create custom IDEs, in-house scripts, and cloud-testing frameworks to detect bugs and errors. 



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
Automate UI and validate the functionality of Flutter apps using a Low-Code recorder using Testsigma

</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Try for free</a>
</div>



What do you think about this mobile app testing checklist? Would you like to add a point to this list? If yes, which one? At Testsigma, we have a team of highly experienced QA engineers who are well-versed with the latest tools and technologies to take care of all your mobile app testing needs. Want to see the ROI of <a href="https://testsigma.com/mobile-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mobile app testing</a> with Testsigma?



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
Automate tests for native and hybrid apps and run tests on 2000+ real and virtual devices on the cloud

</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Try for free</a>
</div>



<h2 id="frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



<h3 id="what-are-the-basic-checks-to-be-performed-while-testing-on-mobile">What are the Basic checks to be performed while testing on mobile?</h3>



Network functionality, OS compatibility, Screen size and display resolution, UX and UI, and Content relevance are a few basics checks of mobile testing.



<h3 id="what-is-the-main-checklist-point-of-mobile-app-testing">What is the main checklist point of mobile app testing?</h3>



The main checklist point for mobile app testing is to ensure that the app functions flawlessly across all devices, platforms, and network conditions, providing a seamless user experience. This involves comprehensive testing for compatibility, performance, security, and usability.





Mobile Testing Tools
https://testsigma.com/mobile-testing-tools


Mobile Testing Challenges
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="yL504UH7MR"><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/8-challenges-of-mobile-app-testing-and-how-to-solve-them/">8 Major Mobile Testing Challenges &#038; Solution</a></blockquote><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="&#8220;8 Major Mobile Testing Challenges &#038; Solution&#8221; &#8212; Testsigma Blog" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/8-challenges-of-mobile-app-testing-and-how-to-solve-them/embed/#?secret=8dSvmGw9vr#?secret=yL504UH7MR" data-secret="yL504UH7MR" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>


Mobile UI Testing
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="EjlTaoUn8X"><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/how-to-perform-mobile-automation-testing-of-the-ui/">Mobile UI Testing &#8211; How to Perform with Testsigma?</a></blockquote><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="&#8220;Mobile UI Testing &#8211; How to Perform with Testsigma?&#8221; &#8212; Testsigma Blog" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/how-to-perform-mobile-automation-testing-of-the-ui/embed/#?secret=IqQO4KitXH#?secret=EjlTaoUn8X" data-secret="EjlTaoUn8X" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>


Types of Mobile Testing
https://testsigma.com/blog/different-types-of-mobile-testing-with-real-life-examples/


Mobile Compatibility Testing
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="lAfUWULkrm"><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/mobile-compatibility-testing/">Mobile Compatibility Testing: How to perform On Real Devices?</a></blockquote><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="&#8220;Mobile Compatibility Testing: How to perform On Real Devices?&#8221; &#8212; Testsigma Blog" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/mobile-compatibility-testing/embed/#?secret=PGIo8W3yZY#?secret=lAfUWULkrm" data-secret="lAfUWULkrm" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>


Cross Browser Compatibility Testing Checklist
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="5keoWybwAS"><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/cross-browser-testing-checklist/">Cross Browser Compatibility Testing Checklist: The Do&#8217;s and Dont&#8217;s</a></blockquote><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="&#8220;Cross Browser Compatibility Testing Checklist: The Do&#8217;s and Dont&#8217;s&#8221; &#8212; Testsigma Blog" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/cross-browser-testing-checklist/embed/#?secret=c9qreyrtko#?secret=5keoWybwAS" data-secret="5keoWybwAS" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>


How to Avoid Cross Browser Compatibility Issues?
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="BBRTRYi8Lf"><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/9-tips-to-avoid-cross-browser-compatibility-issues-from-the-start/">How to Ensure Cross Browser Compatibility</a></blockquote><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="&#8220;How to Ensure Cross Browser Compatibility&#8221; &#8212; Testsigma Blog" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/9-tips-to-avoid-cross-browser-compatibility-issues-from-the-start/embed/#?secret=1dQ7hjdeCY#?secret=BBRTRYi8Lf" data-secret="BBRTRYi8Lf" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>

Mobile App Testing Checklist – Points You Should Not Miss

Frameworks are crucial for any automated testing process in a software organization. They not only reduce the testing efforts and maintenance costs but also increase the return on investment (ROI) of an organization who is looking to optimize their agile processes.



A well-designed test automation framework makes it easier to continue running and improving the system consistently. While these days many different kinds of frameworks are available for different purposes but still there might be scenarios when an organization might want to build a test automation framework from scratch.



Let&#8217;s read more about the test automation frameworks and if you need to build one from scratch below.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_a_Framework">1 What is a Framework?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Build_a_Test_Automation_Framework_from_Scratch">2 How to Build a Test Automation Framework from Scratch</a></li><li><a href="#When_is_a_Test_Automation_Framework_Beneficial">3 When is a Test Automation Framework Beneficial?</a></li><li><a href="#Choosing_a_Test_Automation_Framework">4 Choosing a Test Automation Framework</a></li><li><a href="#Why_choose_Testsigma_as_your_Test_Automation_Framework">5 Why choose Testsigma as your Test Automation Framework?</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="what-is-a-framework">What is a Framework?</h2>



A testing framework is a set of rules or guidelines which are used to create and <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-case-design-techniques/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">design test cases</a>. It consists of a combination of right practices and tools which help QA to test the software more effectively and efficiently.



The guidelines or rules for designing a testing framework may include coding standards, handling methods for <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-data/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test data</a>, the process for test results storage, the process for accessing external resources, object repositories, etc.



Here are some of the key benefits of having a test automation framework:



<ul><li>Low maintenance costs</li><li>Maximum <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-coverage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test coverage</a></li><li>High test speed and efficiency</li><li>Reduced manual intervention</li><li>Improved test accuracy</li><li>High code readability</li><li>Higher portability</li><li>Code reusability</li></ul>



If you are still thinking if you need to choose a test automation framework or continue your testing manually then you should read the blog <a aria-label="when to choose a test automation framework over manual testing (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/blog/when-to-choose-test-automation-framework-over-manual-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">when to choose a test automation framework over manual testing</a> which can provide you more details to clear your confusion<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/when-to-choose-test-automation-framework-over-manual-testing/">.</a> Read here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-automation-frameworks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top Test Automation Frameworks</a>



<h2 id="how-to-build-a-test-automation-framework-from-scratch">How to Build a Test Automation Framework from Scratch</h2>



Building an efficient testing automation framework takes time but it is worth the efforts considering the long-term benefits. With a well-built framework in place, the QA team can focus more on actual testing.



You can ensure a mature test automation framework with these steps:



<ul><li>Identify the test cases that are essential to be executed</li><li>Configure specialized code analysis and coverage tools to ensure a 100% test coverage</li><li>Formalize your test strategy for testing new features into interim builds</li><li>Standardize all environments for required testing and automate deployments</li><li>Define the exit criteria for each run</li><li>Report and fix critical bugs</li><li>Set up application monitoring to detect and report key issues earlier</li></ul>



Building a test automation framework from scratch can take up a lot of investment and, if not taken up carefully, it may not bring the benefits it promised if not taken up carefully.



 Sometimes, building an automation framework from scratch might not be the best option too. So, before deciding you need to build it from scratch, you should review the frameworks available in the market.&nbsp;



If the frameworks available in the market don’t fulfil your needs then its reasonable to build it from scratch.



<h2 id="when-is-a-test-automation-framework-beneficial">When is a Test Automation Framework Beneficial?</h2>



It is crucial to know the functionality and requirements of the project in detail because once you know that, it becomes easy to decide which repetitive tasks you need to automate. It’s not that you should jump into automation right away. There are certain criteria which you need to check before using a test automation framework. 



When is a test automation framework beneficial?



<ul><li>When there are frequent iterations for regression testing</li><li>When repetitive tests are in high amount</li><li>When you need to simulate a large number of users</li><li>When you don’t rely only on manual <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-execution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test execution</a> to test critical functions</li><li>When the application under test is having a stable UI</li></ul>



Before deciding whether you should go for a test automation framework or not, make sure you consider the budget, project environment and technology you are using, and whether your manpower has the right skills required to use automation.



<h2 id="choosing-a-test-automation-framework">Choosing a Test Automation Framework</h2>



It is crucial to use an efficient and re-usable test automation framework to match the pace of the product development and delivery in an agile environment. The traditional capture and relay framework does not have the potential to do this as it will not give the long-term automation success which can be achieved using other robust <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-automation-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test automation strategies</a>. 



While choosing an automation framework, make sure to find an automation testing tool that is flexible and supports all the major applications and languages. This way, it will not be a man or two man show but all your team will be able to contribute to the testing efforts. 



The two mostly used framework types are: 



1. Data-Driven Framework: In a <a href="https://testsigma.com/data-driven-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="data-driven framework (opens in a new tab)">data-driven framework</a>, the test cases are driven from an external data feed in the form of xls, xlsx, and CSV files. It allows the automation testers to execute tests for all the data in the table from a single test script. 



2. Keyword Driven Framework: In keyword driven framework, a table format such as spreadsheet is used to define keywords for each function that is to be executed. 



While in a data-driven framework, you only need to plan for what test data and test scripts are needed, in keyword driven framework, in addition to planning for test data and test scripts, you also need to plan for keywords and their implementation.



Check the detailed comparison here- between <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/data-driven-vs-keyword-driven-frameworks-for-test-automation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data-driven frameworks and keyword-driven frameworks</a> 



Though Selenium has been one of the most popular automation frameworks, it may lack the capabilities to address all your testing needs, especially considering the latest advances in technologies being used to develop websites.



 Other issue is that Selenium is only for desktop websites, if you want to test your website or product on mobile &#8211; it means you have to look for another tool for automation. And that also means that you will have to look for people with a different set of skillsets suited for mobile automation and you will have to spend on additional infrastructure and also additional time.



<a href="https://testsigma.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Testsigma</a>, a test automation framework that lets you automate for website, mobile as well as API testing in one place. It is specially built for the teams of today that are Agile and are using DevOps.



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
Create Automated Tests with Natural Language Processing and achieve 10X faster Test Automation with Testsigma.

</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Try for free</a>
</div>



<h2 id="why-choose-testsigma-as-your-test-automation-framework">Why choose Testsigma as your Test Automation Framework?</h2>



1. With Testsigma, you don’t have to make your hands dirty on coding, the test cases can really be automated in simple English. Also, the test case creation is five times faster than any other similar test automation framework.



2. Testsigma uses an auto-healing feature driven by AI which creates test plans automatically with every code change and identifies all the possible failures easily and fixes the minor ones automatically.



3. At Testsigma, you get a dedicated customer support to remove all your test automation hurdles



4. Use of AI-driven test maintenance and simple English based test case setup helps achieve increased test coverage faster



In this agile and DevOps development ecosystem, test automation frameworks play an important role in meeting the rising demands for high-quality software products. Testsigma is an AI-driven cloud-based automation testing tool which meets all the elements required for continuous testing with a shift left approach.



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
Cut test maintenance time by 70% with Auto-Healing Feature of Testsigma. 

</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Try for free</a>
</div>

Should You Build A Test Automation Framework From Scratch?

Top 7 test automation challenges to look out for

Top 15 Challenges in Automation Testing

If you are working in an agile environment, you may have come across the term ‘code review’. It is a strategic operation where you break the source code into snippets in order to audit the code before it moves to the testing phase.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_Code_Review">1 What is Code Review?</a></li><li><a href="#Why_are_Code_Reviews_Important">2 Why are Code Reviews Important?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_Benefits_of_Code_Reviews">3 What are the Benefits of Code Reviews?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_Disadvantages_of_Code_Reviews">4 What are the Disadvantages of Code Reviews?</a></li><li><a href="#Role_of_a_Software_Tester_in_Code_Reviews">5 Role of a Software Tester in Code Reviews</a></li><li><a href="#4_Different_Code_Review_Approaches">6 4 Different Code Review Approaches</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">7 Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQs">8 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_Code_Review_in_SDLC">8.1 What is Code Review in SDLC?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_Code_Review_Tools">8.2 What are Code Review Tools?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_a_Good_Code_Review">8.3 What is a Good Code Review?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="what-is-code-review">What is Code Review?</h2>



Short definition: It is a two-way communication between a coder and a reviewer. The agenda is to learn from one another, understand the application, detect bugs, and ensure that the code follows quality standards.



Long definition: It is a quality assurance process in which a tester analyzes the source code of the application under review. You can either perform this manually or with the help of automated tools. The process ensures that bug detection and resolution happen early to give the best possible code quality.



<h2 id="why-are-code-reviews-important">Why are Code Reviews Important?</h2>



You may wonder why you would need code review when you have a <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-plan/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testing plan</a> in place.



Following are the key benefits that will enable you to understand the importance:



1. Find More Bugs: It lets you detect bugs at the primary stages of development. As a result, you save a lot of hours and effort during testing. True is the fact that automation testing will help you do the same thing. However, a human perspective is sometimes necessary to find and fix logical errors.



2. Stay Agile: Given the strict quality guidelines and timelines we need to work in, you must have, or would soon be adhering to, the agile methodologies. This means you need to deliver the best results while meeting the cost and time constraints. With code review, you can create bug-free prototypes and share them with the stakeholders.



3. Quality Compliance: It let you abide by the predefined coding rules and standards.



4. Collaboration: Frequent review sessions will bring out the best in your developers and testers. Team members can discover their peer’s strengths and also assist them in improvements.



<h2 id="what-are-the-benefits-of-code-reviews">What are the Benefits of Code Reviews?</h2>



When you think about it, it is just another set of eyes looking for possible human error. But for just one benefit, is it advisable to spend time and more resources on this practice?



Well, here are a few benefits :



<ul><li>Identifying code issues early</li><li>Ensuring to comply with standard code regulations</li><li>Increasing software security</li><li>Implementing a consistent design and development process</li><li>Improving team collaboration and cohesion</li></ul>



<h2 id="what-are-the-disadvantages-of-code-reviews">What are the Disadvantages of Code Reviews?</h2>



With every advantage comes a few disadvantages that you must know about. Only looking at the benefits and deciding on starting code reviews will do your business more bad than good. If you don’t prepare your team to tackle the issues related to code review, they are more likely to stay oblivious to the problems.



Know about the disadvantages here:



<ul><li>Time and resource constraints</li><li>Not every developer consists of knowledge about every project</li><li>Not necessary for every feature or simple applications</li><li>You cannot do a code review when developing a prototype product.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-role-of-a-software-tester-in-code-reviews">Role of a Software Tester in Code Reviews</h2>



A software tester might find the code a bit intimidating in the beginning. It is best to pair up with an experienced developer for code reviewing. Gradually, when the tester is able to identify the patterns and business logic, things start making sense eventually.



It enables the testers to understand the core functionalities of the project and share their wisdom to resolve the bottlenecks.



Here are a few tried-and-tested ways by which you can begin your code-reviewing experience:



1. Synchronous Review: An informal review where the developer stands next to the reviewer.



2. Asynchronous review: Specialized tools are used to review the code.



3. Instant Review: Developer and reviewer pair-up on a single system.



4. Once-a-while: Developer shares the code with the reviewers who meet and discuss the updates.



As a software tester, you would ask the following questions during your code reviewing session:



1. How was this code written?



2. Are there any patterns used for coding?



3. Is the code easy to understand?



4. Are there any logic errors?



5. Is the code secure?



6. Is the log file for debugging available?



7. Are there any third-party integrations?



8. Are <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/unit-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unit tests</a> included?



9. What amendments are being made?



The best part is that you don’t have to be an expert in order to take part in a code review session. You can review a code even if you are at the basic level of coding. What would be your role? You need to see what changes have been made to ask questions.



Before you dive in, get used to the process by initiating with minimal changes.&nbsp; Understand more about them and when you doubt any change, add your comments and question the coder. Given the benefits, you would want to include code reviewing as one of the key phases of the process. This will ensure that you deliver a quality product that adds value to your end-users.



<h2 id="4-different-code-review-approaches">4 Different Code Review Approaches</h2>



Get to know about different approaches in detail.



Formal 



It&#8217;s based on a formal process where testers follow a structured process to find issues in the code. It is also used to find design defects.



Under formal review, one of the most popular adoptions is the Fagan inspection. It follows a six-step process: Planning, Overview, Preparation, Inspection Meeting, Rework, and Follow-up. This holds the basic idea of defining output requirements for each of the steps mentioned. And while executing the process, you check each step&#8217;s output and compare it to the expected output. Subsequently, you decide to move on to the next step if the current step is working properly.



Lightweight 



These reviews are mostly followed by developers, not testers, when they are reviewing a code that is not life-threatening in nature, I.e., it does not impact the software quality to a great extent.



There are four types of lightweight reviews:



<ul><li>Instant code review or pair programming</li><li>Synchronous or over-the-shoulder code review</li><li>Asynchronous or tool-assisted code review</li><li>Code review once in a while or meeting-based code review</li></ul>



We have discussed these four types above.



<h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



If review is done right, can prove to be an effective way to share knowledge and understand your application. With time and experience, you will eventually start realizing the patterns, know more about the nuts and bolts of the codebase, and have a comprehensive perspective of the application.



Just like code reviews, tests are also reviewed. Manual test cases can be reviewed by peers, developers, and managers. Similarly, automated test cases can be reviewed too. Sometimes, the processes for reviews of automated test cases are the same as that for code reviews, as automation may also be done via code. You can also read more here on <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/how-to-convert-manual-test-cases-into-automated-test-cases-and-why/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how to convert manual test cases to automated ones</a>.



<a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma, a cloud-based test automation tool</a>, has also simplified the process of test reviews. In addition, it also simplifies the process of test automation. Thus, in test automation and reviews – non-technical members of the team can be involved too.



<h2 id="frequently-asked-questions-faqs">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</h2>



<h3 id="what-is-code-review-in-sdlc">What is Code Review in SDLC?</h3>



In SDLC it is a critical part that attempts to identify and resolve code issues before the testing phase. It involves going through the developer’s code to find mistakes and fix them before moving on to testing the application.



<h3 id="what-are-code-review-tools">What are Code Review Tools?</h3>



A code review tool is usually an online tool that integrates seamlessly with Engineering Workflow Management source control and work items. It offers you the capability to add output to your work items to present it to your team and stakeholders.



<h3 id="what-is-a-good-code-review">What is a Good Code Review?</h3>



It observes all the code changes and looks at the reasons why this happened. It is clear and does not overlook even the slightest of mistakes that are common when writing code. It covers code correctness, test coverage, and functionality changes and follows the coding guides and best practices.



<customlinks>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Code Freeze and its Relevance</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/code-freeze-and-its-relevance/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Software Testing Strategy</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/software-testing-strategy/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Top Software Testing Trends</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/top-software-testing-trends-to-look-out-for-in-2022/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Software Testing Interview Questions</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/software-testing-interview-questions/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item><ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Different Software Testing Types</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/the-different-software-testing-types-explained/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
</customlinks>

Role Of A Software Tester In Code Reviews