Cross Browser Testing

There used to be only a handful of browsers in the world, but then things changed. Today, consumers are on different devices with different browsers and too many different versions.
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To keep up with the change, websites have shifted to a more agile design and development. Developers are releasing updates constantly rather than waiting a year for a major release. Meanwhile, not all browsers respond to code changes the same. With every change of code, there is always a risk that layout, accessibility, connectivity, quality, and performance may be slightly or exponentially different from browser to browser. It's important to make sure that the website responds properly on each other various browsers and devices.

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With different browsers, like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, it can be hard to find the right code for your site. Cross-browser testing accounts for these differences by giving QA teams the chance to test their site in different browsers. This helps them identify bugs so they can be fixed quickly.

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Design, layout, and functionality - these are all important aspects in web-project testing. When it comes to compatibility in different browsers, there are a lot of things to check: Text and image alignment, Font styles & sizes, Page navigation, Mouse hover, Client side validation of fields, CSS, HTML or XHTML validation, JavaScript and Animations, Form saving functionality etc.

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Types of Cross Browser Testing

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There are two main approaches of the Cross Browser Testing:

1. Manual Cross Browser Testing
2. Automated Cross Browser Testing

‍Manual cross browser testing is the conventional way of doing cross browser testing. Many people install multiple browsers in their system to test their work against other browsers.

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However, this method is not effective because it consumes lots of time and energy. You can use automatic cross browser testing tools to do cross browser testing. These tools help you analyze every aspect of your website's compatibility to different browsers, so that your users can access your site flawlessly.

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The availability of automation testing tools that can be applied to browser testing has made the execution of tests much easier. Cross-browser automation testing is vital for all organizations who want their application to run smoothly across platforms and device combinations.

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To help you decide whether to use cross-browser tools, here are a few things you should keep in mind:

1. Bugs can appear with any tool, but cross-browser testing tools may be more susceptible. For example, cross-browser testing tools may show bugs that aren't visible until the manual checking is done in more than one browser. To solve this, it's best to install and use five common browsers and manually check for suspicious bugs.
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2. If you're not using cross-browser testing tools for your web application, you may be leaving money on the table. Using these tools will allow your team to see how your site performs on multiple browsers and versions of these browsers at once. If you only need to test in a few browsers, consider doing it the old-fashioned way. Cross-browser testing tools are great, but you don't want to spend more time than necessary!

When we talk about cross-browser testing, many people think that they will need to install dozens of different browsers and have several machines on different operating systems to perform this type of testing. However, there are many tools that can be used to conduct cross-browser testing with a limited number of devices and browsers. Let's consider some of them:

1. BrowserStack
   BrowserStack Live is a cross-browser testing tool that doesn't require any installation. Pricing starts at $29, but you can request a free trial. This browser testing tool is also available on Windows and macOS and supports new and old versions of browsers.
   You can test your website on real mobile devices running various operating systems with the help of BrowserStack. BrowserStack Live is a cloud-based platform that supports nearly all real mobile device browsers and doesn't require a device lab or virtual machines. It offers instant start up, and there is no more need to wait several minutes for your HTML and CSS to load on a phone. You can also test for bugs and identify them quickly.
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2. LambdaTest
   LambdaTest is a cloud-based platform that lets you test your web app or website for cross-browser compatibility.
   You can interact with the app live in a real browser environment, or use Selenium to automate tests on LambdaTest's grid of browsers.Starting at only $15 per month, it's easy to get started with LambdaTest. You can select from testing web or mobile apps, with packages starting at $99 per month. LambdaTest also offers a free version that has some limitations.
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3. Sauce Labs
   Sauce Labs allows you to test web and mobile applications on thousands of combinations of browsers and operating systems, as well as mobile emulators, simulators, and real devices.
   Manual cross-browser testing starts at $39 per month, and this option only allows for one test to be performed at a time. Real mobile devices can be tested at $199 per month

Conclusion

Cross-browser testing is an essential part of QA, and it ensures your site is compatible for all web browsers. It's recommended that you use a cross-browser tester or do it manually to achieve the best results.
On the topic of browsers, it's important to ensure your site is compatible with several of the most popular browsers, devices, and operating systems. Of course, this is easier said than done, but at the very least you should prioritize compatibility with several of the most commonly used browsers.

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