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Internet Explorer Testing | What it is and How to Test ?

October 3, 2024
Kiruthika Devaraj
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Internet Explorer Testing How to Test Website on IE Browser
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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, some businesses and organizations still use it. We discuss Internet Explorer and IE Testing in detail in this blog. Read on!

Internet Explorer – History and Versions

Are you ready to dig in the sand and discover history?

Internet Explorer: A Brief History

Microsoft developed Internet Explorer (IE) as a web browser. It enjoyed a position of dominance among browsers for a long time but later lost its popularity with the advent of tough competition from Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

Early Days and Dominance

First versions: The initial Internet Explorer versions were distributed as part of the Windows operating system installation, which ensured that millions of users had it set as their default browser.

Rise to dominance: IE captured a large share of the market during the late 1990s and early 2000s because of its bundling with Windows and contribution toward popularizing the Internet.

Decline and End of Life

Competition: The rise of open-source browsers like Firefox and the revolutionary Chrome further undermined IE’s market leadership.

Security issues:  Trust in IE was flagged as it came under attack for its numerous security loopholes.

End of life: In June 2022, Microsoft officially ended support for Internet Explorer and encouraged all users to switch to the newer Microsoft Edge browser.

Key Internet Explorer Versions

Though there were many versions of Internet Explorer, some of the most notable ones are:

Internet Explorer 3: Added support for tables, frames, and JavaScript.

Internet Explorer 4: It was integrated with Windows 95 and introduced ActiveX controls.

Internet Explorer 6: The most widely used but heavily criticized in terms of security flaws.

Internet Explorer 7: Improves security and tabbed browsing.

Internet Explorer 8: Introduces compatibility mode and performance enhancements.

Internet Explorer 9: Provides significant performance improvements and support for HTML5.

Internet Explorer 10 and 11: Bring continued improvement but fail to regain the market share lost.

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. Read here – How to Test a Website on Different Browsers

This type of testing involves verifying that the website or application works as expected on Internet Explorer, the major aspects covered are:

  • Functions correctly
  • Displays as intended
  • Remains user-friendly
Internet explorer testing

Why is it Critical to Test Your Websites on Internet Explorer?

When testing on IE, you should test multiple IE versions on different devices with different settings and internet connections. Also, test for users with disabilities and those who are not familiar with computers.

Here are a few reasons why you should test your websites on Internet Explorer:

Certain organizations do require IE.

Some organizations, like government agencies and large corporations, do require their employees to use IE. The reasons are most often security or compatibility.

IE has a different rendering engine from other browsers.

IE does use a different engine than Chrome or Firefox and other browsers. This means, of course, that IE might generate your website differently than the others.

IE still has a big chunk of the market.

Although its market share has dwindled in recent years, IE is still widely used in specific industries and regions, maintaining around 5% market share in the US.

IE supports a different set of features.

This is because IE supports a different set of features from other browsers; thus, some features available in other browsers may not work in IE.

Your website might be more vulnerable to security attacks in IE.

IE has not been kept pace with security patches as much as other browsers.

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.

Automate and execute your cross browser tests, along with your tests for desktop and mobile apps, 5x faster, with Testsigma

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What are the Advantages & Disadvantages of IE?

We should know both the advantages and disadvantages of IE:

Advantages of Internet Explorer

  • Integration with Windows
  • Legacy Support
  • Active Directory Integration
  • Compatibility with Older Technologies
  • Group Policy Management

Disadvantages of Internet Explorer

  • Security Vulnerabilities
  • Lack of Modern Web Standards Support
  • Performance Issues
  • Limited Extension Ecosystem
  • End of Support

Is Internet Explorer no longer available?

As of June 15, 2022, Microsoft has discontinued support for Internet Explorer, although it is still accessible. Microsoft Edge is now the preferred browser option. Although Internet Explorer may still be utilized for older applications, it lacks necessary updates and security enhancements, resulting in decreased safety and efficiency.

When and How do you go Beyond Testing Internet Explorer?

Remember to ask yourself the following two questions before you move past IE:

When should you Stop Testing with Internet Explorer?

End of support: Internet Explorer has been officially discontinued, meaning no more security patches or updates.

Shrinking user base: The market is now dominated by such modern browsers as Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge.

Security risks: If you keep using IE, be ready that this will expose the users and your organization to some vulnerabilities.

Compliance issues: Many industry regulations require running up-to-date software.

How to Move Beyond IE Testing?

Prioritize modern browsers: Concentrate your testing efforts on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. These make up larger percentage of your users. Read here – Cross Browser Testing

Use responsive design: Create sites that can tell what device or screen size it is viewed on and respond appropriately by displaying easy-to-navigate layouts without breaking or compromising the usability and user experience on different browsers.

Use browser compatibility tools: Carry out your compatibility tests by using tools such as Testsigma to identify issues that may arise out of differences in browsers. Testsigma supports a wide range of browsers, ensuring thorough compatibility checks.

Automate and execute your cross browser tests, along with your tests for desktop and mobile apps, 10x faster, with Testsigma

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Monitor user behavior: Track your browser usage analytics to gain a good understanding of your audience, which will help you make good decisions about testing.

Communicate end of support: Notify users about the end of IE support and encourage them to update their browsers.

Create a migration plan: Detail how to phase out IE support in a phased approach, along with providing replacement solutions (if needed) for legacy systems.

Consider incremental improvements: Build your site with basic browsers’ capabilities first, then incrementally improve for modern browsers’ features.

Invest in developer tools: Use browser developer tools for effective testing and debugging on multiple platforms.

Keep up with web standards: Observe modern web standards and best practices to ensure compatibility and performance.

Conduct user testing: Obtain feedback from actual users to be able to spot compatibility or usability problem areas. Read here – compatibility testing

By following these guidelines, you can effectively steer clear of IE testing, enhance user experience and increase site security.

Takeaway

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.

Testsigma Author - Kiruthika Devaraj

Kiruthika Devaraj

The author is a proficient and passionate writer who takes great pleasure in captivating readers with her imaginative writing. Her unique ability to craft engaging write-ups, stories, and poems transports readers into the fascinating world of her characters. With several published novels, short stories, poems, blogs, and articles, she continuously explores new ways to express her creativity. If you want to establish a professional connection with this talented author, we encourage you to send a connection request on LinkedIn.

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