Cross browser testing is the practice of checking that a website or web application works as expected on different web browsers. Testing across browsers is crucial for a seamless user experience. Here are 5 major general perks of performing cross browser testing:
1. Identify Browser-Specific Issues
Different browsers may use different rendering engines to display web pages. These engines have different ways of interpreting HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Web pages may thus look broken or inconsistent across several browsers.
Cross browser testing can detect general browser-specific bugs like layout problems, JavaScript errors, and CSS conflicts, as well as many more. Fixing these types of issues can help ensure a reliable experience regardless of the browser used.
2. Avoid Loss of Users and Revenue
If a website does not work properly on a major browser, it can directly impact conversion rates and business metrics. Testing across browsers can help reduce loss of potential customers and revenue due to general compatibility issues. Brand reputation can also suffer if users complain about a broken site. Cross browser checks can help maximize visibility and access.
3. Keep Up with Browser Updates
Web browsers frequently update themselves with new features, standards support, security fixes, and more. These general updates can sometimes unintentionally cause regression bugs on complex websites built on older browser versions. Conducting regular cross browser tests can catch compatibility issues introduced by browser upgrades.
Proactively checking browsers can help future-proof websites as browser vendors rapidly add capabilities. Testing across browser versions can verify support for both older and newer users.
4. Meet User Expectations
Users today expect websites to work properly regardless of which major browser they choose to access it from. The average end user is unlikely to be aware of or concerned about the subtle technical differences between browsers. They simply want to be able to visit a website and have it render and function as intended.
However, if a website has only been optimized for one specific browser, it risks frustrating and turning away users who visit the site from another browser. They may encounter bugs, inconsistent layouts, broken images, or other issues that create a negative experience. This fails to meet user expectations for a consistent experience across browsers.
5. Comply with Standards
Supporting published web standards can help avoid browser-specific code. Standards like HTML5, CSS3, WAI-ARIA, and others enable consistent functionality when properly implemented. Cross browser testing can validate standards compliance.
Websites that comply with standards may require less rework when new browser versions appear. Adhering to standards during general cross browser testing can lead to sustainable websites.
Conclusion
The major general perks of cross browser testing include identifying browser bugs, avoiding lost users and sales, keeping up with updates, meeting user expectations, and aligning with standards. Testing web applications across desktop and mobile browsers can ensure optimal quality and consistent experiences for all users regardless of their browser preference. Investing time in rigorous cross browser testing can provide benefits like greater customer satisfaction, revenue, and technical resilience.
