Internet Explorer Testing | How to Test Website on IE Browser?

Ah, Internet Explorer, the venerable browser that once reigned supreme in the World Wide Web. 

Though times have evolved, and Internet Explorer may have faded from the limelight, it is still used by some businesses and organizations. 

We discuss Internet Explorer and IE Testing in detail in this blog. Read on!

Internet Explorer Testing

Internet Explorer testing evaluates a website or web application to ensure its compatibility, functionality, and appearance in the “Internet Explorer” developed by Microsoft. 

While IE is no longer actively developed, it is still used by some businesses and organizations, so testing on IE is essential to ensure a consistent and smooth user experience for all users.

Internet Explorer has had distinct features, rendering behaviors, and compatibility issues compared to other browsers, so testing on IE is crucial. 

This type of testing involves verifying that the website or application is on Internet Explorer:

• Functions correctly
• Displays as intended
• Remains user-friendly

Why is it critical to test your websites on Internet Explorer?

When testing on IE, it is important to test multiple IE versions on different devices with different settings and internet connections. It is also essential to test for different types of users, such as users with disabilities and users who are not familiar with computers.

Here are some reasons why it is critical to test your websites on Internet Explorer:

• Some organizations require IE. Some organizations, such as government agencies and large enterprises, need their employees to use IE. This is often due to security or compatibility reasons.
• IE has a different rendering engine than other browsers. IE uses a different rendering engine than other browsers, such as Chrome and Firefox. This means that IE may render your website differently than other browsers.
• IE still has a significant market share. While IE’s market share has declined in recent years, it still has a considerable market share in specific industries and regions. For example, IE still has around 5% market share in the US.
• IE has a different set of supported features. IE has a different set of supported features than other browsers. This means some features in other browsers may not work in IE.

Here are some specific examples of why testing your website on IE is essential:

• Your website may not display correctly in IE. This is because IE uses a different rendering engine than other browsers.
• Some features of your website may need to be fixed in IE. This is because IE does not support all modern web standards.
• Your website may need to be faster in IE. This is because IE is less optimized for modern websites than other browsers.
• Your website may be more vulnerable to security attacks in IE. IE is less up-to-date with security patches than other browsers.

If you want to ensure that your website is accessible and usable for all your users, testing it on IE is essential.

Test Internet Explorer 11 Browser Compatibility on Real Desktop & Mobile Device

Testing Internet Explorer 11 browser compatibility on desktop and mobile devices is important to ensure your website or web application is accessible to all users. Internet Explorer 11 is a legacy browser that is no longer actively developed, but some businesses and organizations still use it.

Manual cross-browser testing on IE 11 can be done by installing IE 11 on your system or mobile and then testing your website in the browser. Such manual testing can also be done on cloud device providers like Browserstack or Lambdastack, where you can access the browser on the cloud and execute your tests. 

If you need to execute these tests repetitively, then a better option is to automate them. Let’s see how in the section below. 

Using Testsigma with BrowserStack or Sauce Labs

Testsigma is a cross-browser testing platform that can be integrated with cloud device labs like BrowserStack or Sauce Labs. This allows you to test your website on multiple versions of IE 11 on real devices from the cloud.

To use Testsigma with BrowserStack or Sauce Labs, you must create an account with both platforms. Once you have created accounts, you can integrate Testsigma with BrowserStack or Sauce Labs by providing your API keys.

Once Testsigma is integrated with BrowserStack or Sauce Labs, you can start testing your website on multiple versions of IE 11 on real devices. To do this, you must create a test case in Testsigma and specify the browser and device you want to test your website.

Once you have created a test case, the tests will be run automatically once triggered.

Automate your cross-browser tests easily and efficiently with Testsigma

What is the Internet Explorer (IE) Emulator?

An Internet Explorer emulator is a software program that simulates the IE browser on a different browser, such as Chrome or Firefox. IE emulators are helpful for quick and easy testing but may not be as accurate as testing on a real IE browser.

Why should we test using the IE emulator?

You might want to test using the IE emulator for a few reasons:

• Convenience: IE emulators are quick and easy to use. You can install an IE emulator on your local machine without IE.
• Cost: IE emulators are generally less expensive than cross-browser testing platforms.
• Speed: IE emulators can be faster than cross-browser testing platforms, especially for simple tests.

What are the disadvantages of testing using the IE emulator?

Some disadvantages of testing using the IE emulator:

• Accuracy: IE emulators may not be as accurate as testing on a real IE browser. This is because IE emulators simulate the IE browser but cannot reproduce all of the complexities of the real IE browser.
• Support: IE emulators may not support all of the features of the IE browser. This is because of third-party vendors. They develop IE emulators and may only sometimes keep them up-to-date with the latest version of IE.
• Device coverage: IE emulators may not support all devices supported by IE. This is because the vendors of IE emulators may not have access to all of the same devices that Microsoft has.

How do I test my website on Internet Explorer 11 Browser?

To test your website on the Internet Explorer 11 browser, you can follow these steps:

• Local testing: Install Internet Explorer 11 on your local machine and run the tests manually or in an automated way using Testsigma.
• Cloud testing: Platforms such as BrowserStack and LambdaTest let you manually execute your tests on browsers on the cloud. Use Testsigma to automate and execute your tests on these browsers on the cloud.

How does Testsigma help you with Internet Explorer browser testing?

Testsigma is a cloud-based cross-browser testing platform that can help you with Internet Explorer browser testing in some ways. 

You can automate your tests on Testsigma and then execute them on IE11 via the cloud device labs like browserstack, Lambdatest or saucelabs.

Note: IE is not supported in Windows 11 

In addition to the above, Testsigma also provides the following benefits for Internet Explorer browser testing through t the labs:

• Parallel testing: Testsigma allows you to run parallel tests on multiple browsers and devices. This can significantly reduce the time it takes to test your website.

• Geolocation testing: Testsigma allows you to test your website from different locations. This can help you to identify any compatibility issues that may be specific to certain regions.

• Visual testing: Testsigma provides visual testing capabilities to help you identify website rendering issues. This is especially important for testing your website on IE, as it has a different rendering engine than other browsers.

This allows you to test your website on various IE browsers and devices, regardless of your operating system or location.

Conclusion

Here we conclude! 

This blog provides valuable insights on Internet Explorer testing. Internet Explorer testing is still essential for businesses that support legacy users and applications. 

By following the tips in this blog post, you can ensure that your website or web application is compatible with Internet Explorer. By doing so, you can ensure that all users have a positive experience when visiting your website.

Happy Testing!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a remote Internet Explorer browser?

A remote Internet Explorer browser is a virtual browser that runs on a remote server, allowing you to test your website on Internet Explorer without installing it on your local machine.

Can I test for other Internet Explorer (IE) versions?

Yes, you can test for other IE versions by using:

• Emulators: Emulators simulate the behavior of a different browser on your local machine.
• Virtual machines: Virtual machines allow you to create a virtual computer on your local machine that can run a different operating system, such as Windows.
• Cloud-based testing platforms: Cloud-based testing platforms provide access to a wide range of real devices and browsers, including different versions of Internet Explorer.

Can I use macOS or Linux to test on IE?

No, Internet Explorer is not natively available on macOS or Linux. To test on IE, you need a Windows-based environment or cloud-based services.

What was the most common bug in the Internet Explorer test?

The most common bug in Internet Explorer tests was compatibility issues with the  browser; i.e. the tests that ran successfully on other browsers, failed on Internet Explore. This was especially true for older versions of Internet Explorer.