Browser testing is one of the core testing processes that help to maintain the flawless functioning of websites and web applications. With the evolution of the application Development Industry, browser testing has also come a long way to keep up with the competitive industry. For instance, automated test cases have been introduced to improve the efficiency and accuracy of browser testing. Moreover, in most cases, browser testing has been taken over by cross-browser testing. So, in this article, we will evaluate some of the most interesting facts about browser test cases. Let us start with the basics of browser testing.
The Base Idea of Browser Testing
Browser testing is the process of ensuring that a website is compatible with a specific Browser. In this process, the developers must test the functioning of the website on multiple versions of the same Browser. Some of the popular browsers according to modern market standards are Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari. So, website development companies must ensure that their site is accessible on all these browsers to ensure maximum audience coverage. Recently traditional websites have been replaced by web applications. Web applications can deliver all the functions of a typical app while eliminating the hassle of downloading and installing any application on your system. These applications have become the pillars of success for multiple sectors like banking and e-commerce. All these factors justify how important it is for companies to provide the best browser experience to their customers.
Top 10 Things You Should Know About Browser Test Cases
1. Earlier Practices of Browser Testing
During the early years of the internet in the 1990s, the only browsers available were Netscape (now Firefox) and Internet Explorer. So manual testing was the only process to perform browser testing as there were not many alternatives available back then. However, according to multiple reports, it took more than two to three months to complete all the test cases with the help of complete manual testing. Therefore, companies took almost six months to completely release the product to their end users.
2. Major Changes in the Infrastructure of the Web
The infrastructure of the internet has evolved a lot since its first introduction in the 1990s. For instance, compared to the previous times, now the internet can be accessed from desktops, mobile devices and even tablets. This spread in the internet user base has increased the complexity of the site development process. This is because now the companies must ensure that the web application is functional on all of these devices. Currently, 60% of internet traffic is dominated by mobile users. So, the companies need to provide a stable end-user experience on all mobiles that are currently available in the market.
3. Role of Automation Testing in Browser Testing
During the early years of browser testing, manual test cases were the only process to verify the proper functioning of all the elements on the website. However manual testing is not only a time-consuming process but also prone to human error. With the evolution of Technology, as the complexity of Browser applications began to rise, the developers required a better alternative. It was during this time Automation Testing begin to gain popularity in the industry. Automation Testing is the process of automatically executing the testing process with the help of automated test cases. Market analysis suggests that Automation Testing can complete all the testing processes within 2 days.
So, it will be a highly time-saving and effective measure to integrate browser testing with automation testing. However, the developer must remember that it is an expensive process to initially set up the automated test cases. There are various Frameworks like Selenium that help developers to perform automated browser testing.
4. Rise of Modern Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer is indeed no longer available and has been transformed into the new Microsoft Edge Browser. However, from a developer’s point of view, it is obvious that Microsoft edge has many features that have been directly derived from the Legacy Internet Explorer. So, Microsoft provides a special version of IE that helps the developers to verify the functioning of the web application on not only Microsoft edge but also older versions of Internet Explorer as well. This is an especially important process as there is a huge portion of the audience base who still uses Internet Explorer.
5. The Browser Landscape
With the advancement of technology, the demands of users have also started to rise. Currently, it has reached a certain point where it is no longer possible for a single browser to stand in up to the Expectations of every user. This is the primary reason there are hundreds of browsers that are currently available in the market. This wide variety of browsers has created serious obstacles for web application development companies. This is because they must now provide stable support for the web application on all these browsers. So, the developers need to select their target browsers before beginning the browser testing process. A thorough market research can help developers understand the preferences of the users. For reference, Google Chrome is now the most used browser followed by Firefox and Safari.
6. QA of Browser Testing
Quality assessment is an important process that helps to ensure that all the components of an application are working as intended. This is particularly important to provide the optimal end-user experience to customers and maintain their satisfaction. QA processes also help to keep control over the bounce rate of a website. Bounce rate helps the company to measure the total number of users who never return to a web application after accessing it only once. Agile Methodologies help companies to conduct QA with automated test cases. This process also helps to improve the integration and understanding between different teams of the web app developing company. Companies should also allocate a proper share of the website development cost for QA test cases.
7. Rise of Cross-Browser Testing
Cross-browser testing is the process of ensuring that your web application remains functional irrespective of multiple browsers, operating systems, and devices. Cross-browser testing is more efficient compared to typical browser test cases. This is because in cross-browser testing the developers can use the single test case on multiple Browsers and operating systems. There are also various platforms like LambdaTest that help developers to automate cross-browser test cases. Using cross-browser testing, the developers can also verify the functioning of the application on certain browser versions that are no longer available in the market. So, it is a wise decision for companies to start transitioning from typical browser testing to cross-browser testing.
8. Role of Tools in Automated Browser testing
With proper knowledge, it can be quite simple to initiate and execute automated test cases. However, the process of automation can be a bit complex and confusing for developers who are new to the industry. To solve this problem, there are thousands of automation tools that are available in the current market. However, the developers must remember to choose the perfect tool that can suit their requirements and development standards. Some of the crucial factors that they must consider in this phase are their preferences for programming languages, the company budget for subscription charges, and the expected delivery date. We can use LambdaTest to elevate our understanding of this segment.
Lambdatest is a platform to automate cross-browser test cases on a cloud-based interface. Cloud interface allows developers to access the test platforms from anywhere in the world. While using the Selenium Framework, LambdaTest allows the developers to initiate the test cases on 3000+ different browsers and browser versions. Using LambdaTest, the developers can also perform parallel testing during browser test cases. Parallel Testing is a unique way of initiating multiple test instances side by side. LambdaTest generates highly accurate test results as it combines multiple reports from simulators, emulators, and even real devices.
One of the crucial factors that the developers must consider during the tool selection process is to check the dependability of the tool. The easiest way to complete this process is to check for user reviews that are present on multiple online forums. These users have been using the tool for several days and can provide honest feedback about its reliability.
9. Proper Combination of Manual and Automation Testing
The massive advantages of Automation Testing often convey the wrong message that it will be a wise decision to completely substitute manual testing with test automation. However, from a logical point of view, it is almost impossible to conduct all test cases with the help of automation testing. For instance, it is impossible to automate visual test cases. Visual testing is the process of ensuring that all the elements of the web application are properly aligned irrespective of the browser. Moreover, exploratory testing is another testing process that is completely dependent on the expertise of a human developer. This form of testing finds out all the errors in the application that are usually overlooked by automated test cases.
So, the best solution to this problem is to maintain a perfect balance between manual testing and automation testing.
10. Importance of Old Systems and Legacy Browsers
Various market surveys have revealed that only a handful of users have access to high-end systems. This survey also shows that more than 80% of users seldom update their web browsers. So, the developers can not consider high-end devices as the benchmark during browser testing. Ensuring a stable performance on old systems and Legacy browsers will help the companies to have stable control over a huge audience base. However, application development companies should remember that it is an expensive process to maintain a physical device testing lab. As an alternative, there are various cloud platforms like LambdaTest that provide access to real devices and thousands of browsers over the cloud.
The Conclusion
So, we can conclude that browser testing is one of the important processes that help to ensure a company’s web application is according to modern standards. Experts suggest that as Technology continues to advance further, browser testing and cross browser testing will also evolve with it. So, the testers must try to keep themselves updated with all the modern market trends. Web application development companies should also spread proper awareness regarding the importance of a well-planned browser test case. Lastly, the testers should understand the importance of a proper cross browser testing platform like LambdaTest to improve the quality of the end product.