In recent years, cross-browser compatibility testing has become increasingly crucial to ensure all users can access a website or application regardless of their browser. With technological advancements occurring rapidly, updates and changes are happening faster than ever.

However, slow adaptation to change often perpetuates the use of outdated technology, resulting in compatibility issues and fewer features. Such applications may slow down systems and leave customers dissatisfied with their experience.

Test websites on different browsers prevent users from facing issues due to outdated technology. This article will explore the benefits of cross-browser compatibility testing and how the process works in more detail. Check it out!

Cross-Browser Compatibility Testing

It is a type of testing that ensures that a website functions correctly across different devices, tools, and combinations of browsers and operating systems. Since various browsers operate with different settings and configurations, version disparities can lead to several issues. This variability is a significant reason users encounter adaptability problems when using other operating systems and devices.

However, as a service provider, you would not want any segment of your target audience to be unable to access certain features. This is where cross-browser compatibility testing becomes crucial. By testing and debugging the website across multiple browsers and platforms, developers can ensure that such issues do not significantly impact your business.

Why Cross-Browser Compatibility Testing?

The following are the importance of cross-browser compatibility testing:

• Market Reach:

Users have diverse preferences regarding web browsers. Neglecting compatibility testing may alienate a significant portion of your audience. Ensuring your website functions well on popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge maximizes your market reach and accessibility.

• Maintaining Credibility:

A website with compatibility issues can damage your brand’s credibility and reputation. Users may view your site as unreliable or poorly constructed, leading to a loss of trust and diminished reputation.

• Mobile Devices:

Mobile browsers present unique challenges and quirks that must be addressed. With the increasing mobile Internet use, ensuring compatibility with mobile browsers is paramount. A website that effectively adjusts to different screen sizes and touch interfaces is vital for engaging the mobile audience effectively.

• SEO Impact:

Search engines like Google consider user experience to be a ranking factor. If your website performs poorly on specific browsers, it might affect your search engine rankings. 

• Support and Maintenance:

A website that works smoothly across different browsers reduces the burden of ongoing support and maintenance. Fewer compatibility-related issues mean fewer updates and patches needed, saving time and resources in the long run.

• Global Audience:

The Internet connects people worldwide. International users will access your website using various browsers. Cross-browser compatibility ensures that language characters, fonts, and other regional aspects display correctly, enabling you to effectively cater to a global audience.

• Competitive Advantage:

Websites that prioritize cross-browser compatibility gain a competitive edge. They can attract and retain users more effectively than those with compatibility issues, and a well-optimized site provides a better user experience.

Types of Cross-Browser Compatibility Testing

Here are some of the main types of cross-browser and compatibility testing:

• Functional Testing:

This ensures that a website’s interactive features work correctly across different browsers. It includes validating form submissions, checking clickable buttons, ensuring navigation menus function properly, and confirming scripting interactions behave consistently.

• Visual Testing:

This focuses on a website’s appearance across browsers and devices. It involves verifying the consistent display of fonts, colors, layouts, and images and identifying and fixing any visual glitches or misalignments.

• Performance Testing:

This testing checks how quickly a website opens, whether it works properly on different browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, and whether it works well on other devices like phones, tablets, and computers.

• Cross-Device Testing:

This testing checks that a website works well on devices like computers, laptops, tablets, and phones. It also checks if you can tap and use gestures on phone websites. It also makes sure the website looks right on different screen sizes. It also confirms that the website works correctly if you hold the device sideways or upright.

The primary purpose is to make sure the website works nicely no matter what device you use to look at it.

• Cross-Platform Testing:

This testing verifies compatibility across different operating systems and browsers. It includes testing consistency on Windows and macOS computers and Android and iOS devices.

• Version Testing:

This testing involves testing a website on different versions of a specific browser to ensure compatibility across various iterations. It includes testing on older versions of popular browsers like Internet Explorer 11, Firefox, or Chrome.

• Security Testing:

Security testing verifies that a website’s security features and protocols work consistently across browsers and platforms. It includes testing SSL certificate implementation, secure login forms, and the effectiveness of security headers like Content Security Policy.

How to Test Your Website on Different Browsers

Follow these steps to test your website on different web browsers:

1. Make a List of Browsers to Test

First, figure out which browsers most people use to view your website. Tools that track website visitors can provide this information. Ensure to include popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

2. Plan What to Test

Next, list all the features and functions you want to test on your website. It would also help if you decided which combinations of browsers and computer operating systems (like Windows or Mac) you must test.

3. Do the Testing

Now it’s time actually to test your website. Here’s a simple example of how to check if a feature works using some code:

4. Write Down What You Found

Finally, write down any problems or bugs you found when testing the different browser combinations. This information will help the developers fix the issues and improve the website.

The key things are knowing what browsers to test, planning out what to test, actually doing the testing, and documenting any issues found to fix later.

Addressing Common Compatibility Issues

Despite your best efforts, you may come across common cross-browser compatibility issues. Here’s how to tackle them:

• CSS Interpretation:

Browsers may interpret CSS differently, causing variations in your website’s appearance. To ensure consistency, use a CSS reset to override default browser styles. Additionally, consider using browser-specific stylesheets or CSS features like Flexbox and Grid for more uniform layouts.

• JavaScript Functionality:

JavaScript adds interactivity to your site, but browsers may interpret it differently. Use feature detection and polyfills to ensure your JavaScript works across browsers. Test your code in various browsers to catch any discrepancies.

• HTML Rendering:

Browsers can render HTML differently, affecting your site’s structure and layout. Validate your HTML to identify and fix issues. Utilize HTML5 semantic elements for a more consistent structure across browsers.

• Continuous Testing and Updates:

Addressing these issues ensures a consistent user experience across browsers. Remember, cross-browser compatibility requires ongoing testing and updates as new browser versions emerge.

Tools for Cross-Browser Compatibility Testing

Here are the cross-browser compatibility testing tools:

LambdaTest

• LambdaTest is an AI-powered test orchestration and execution platform that lets you run manual and automated tests at scale with more than 3000 real devices, browsers, and OS combinations.
• This supports automation testing with Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, and more.
• Offers features like visual regression testing, geolocation testing, and local testing.

Selenium Box

• Enables running Selenium and Appium tests behind corporate firewalls or in private clouds.
• Provides pre-tested, maintenance-free browsers for high scalability.
• Integrates with CI/CD environments and offers advanced test reporting.

Ranorex Studio

• A powerful yet easy-to-use cross-browser testing tool with web scraping and functional testing capabilities.
• Supports parallel testing across multiple devices.
• Allows creating automated UI tests with zero coding knowledge.

Testim

• AI-powered test automation tool that focuses on reducing maintenance overhead.
• Supports multiple programming languages and integrates with various tools.
• Runs Selenium scripts across 3000+ browser environments.

Virtuoso

• Leverages AI and NLP to automate end-to-end testing on different browsers and devices.
• Allows creating functional tests using natural language programming.
• Integrates with popular tools like GitHub, Slack, and Microsoft Azure.

QA Wolf

• Provides end-to-end testing services with a team of QA engineers.
• Runs tests in parallel and generates comprehensive bug reports.
• Integrates with internal systems for real-time performance monitoring.

Compare

• Offers cross-browser compatibility testing through screenshot comparisons and live-time testing.
• Automatically detects visual discrepancies across different browsers.
• Supports the latest web browsers.

Autify

• Web and mobile automation testing tool with visual regression testing capabilities.
• Allows recording interactions using the Autify Recorder Chrome extension.
• Integrates with tools like Jenkins, TestRail, and Slack.

These tools provide a range of features and capabilities to help organizations effectively implement cross-browser compatibility testing and ensure a consistent user experience across different browsers and devices.

Best Practices for Consistency Across Different Browsers

Following are some best practices for effective cross-browser compatibility testing:

• Define the Browser and Device Matrix:

The Browser and Device Matrix is the initial stage in attaining cross-browser compatibility. It entails pinpointing the prevalent web browsers among the target audience and the diverse devices and operating systems utilized to access the website or application. Developing a thorough matrix of these browsers and their respective versions enables prioritization of testing efforts. This approach ensures optimal functionality across the identified matrix, enhancing the user experience.

• Leverage Framework Encapsulation:

Employing a robust web development framework can significantly simplify achieving cross-browser compatibility. Frameworks such as Bootstrap, React, and Angular are engineered to abstract away the intricacies of cross-browser concerns, automatically generating responsive components and addressing different browser quirks. With a framework-centric approach, developers can concentrate on implementing the website’s or application’s fundamental features, leaving the framework to manage the complexities of cross-browser compatibility. This leads to more efficient development processes and ensures a consistent user experience across browsers and devices.

• Utilize Automation Testing Tools:

Testing websites on different browsers and devices takes time, and humans can make mistakes. Automatic testing tools like Selenium and Cypress allow developers to test websites or apps across many platforms simultaneously without having to do it manually.

These automatic testing tools save much time and effort compared to manual testing. They are also better at quickly finding compatibility problems with different browsers or devices.

Using automatic testing tools makes checking websites on multiple browsers and devices much more efficient. It frees developers from tedious manual testing so they can spend time on other essential tasks.

• Develop a Channel for Code Validation:

Creating a channel for code validation is essential to uphold cross-browser compatibility. Adhering to W3C standards in the website or application code reduces the likelihood of compatibility issues stemming from syntax errors or non-standard practices. Establishing a process for code validation can include integrating validation tools into the development workflow or implementing a dedicated code review procedure. This ensures the identification and resolution of compatibility-related concerns early in development.

• Implement Retest and Regression Testing:

As changes and updates are introduced to the website or application, it is essential to establish a retest and regression testing channel. The website should be retested across the defined browser and device matrix to identify and address potential compatibility problems whenever new features or modifications are made. This proactive approach helps maintain a consistent user experience and prevents compatibility issues from persisting or resurfacing.

Conclusion

Determining which browsers to test is not solely based on research; it relies on the preferences of your target market. Businesses are responsible for ensuring users have seamless access to website features. An effective cross-browser compatibility testing strategy considers the audience type, browser matrix, automation tool selection, and decisions regarding testing on real browsers. Striking the right balance involves selecting a minimum number of browser-OS combinations to maximize target audience coverage and user experience.

The benefits of prioritizing cross-browser compatibility are significant. It helps maximize market reach, maintain brand credibility, optimize for mobile devices, improve search engine rankings, reduce ongoing support, cater to a global audience, and gain a competitive edge.

Moving forward, businesses should continue adopting the best cross-browser compatibility testing practices. Proactively identifying and resolving compatibility challenges allows organizations to future-proof their digital assets and ensure accessibility and relevance. Investing in cross-browser testing demonstrates a commitment to delivering a high-quality, inclusive user experience, driving customer satisfaction, engagement, and business success in the competitive online landscape.