The
complexity of software applications have increased due to the rapid evolution
of web technologies. Certain web browsers are compatible with selective
operating systems while certain browsers provide advanced privacy and automated
features. Cross Browser Testing, or
Browser Compatibility Testing, for an application
needs to be performed across multiple cross browser platforms, operating
systems and mobile devices to uncover discrepancies. To ensure the browser
compatibility of an application, it is important to consider all the methods
that end users utilize to interact with the application.
The
need for Cross-Browser Testing:
One
of the main reasons, to put an application through multi-browser
testing, is to monitor the CSS style rendering across different
browsers. Older versions of Internet Explorer are unable to support the newer
CSS elements and HTML tags.
All
the browsers do not interpret the Javascript/Jquery codes in the same way.
Thus, a script may work on one browser and get rendered as non-responsive on
the other.
Web
browsers today are not just limited to personal computers, but they extend to
mobiles also. Hence, cross browser testing needs to be performed on mobile
browsers as well.
The
main reasons for performing Cross-Browsertesting can be summarized as follows:
- Display text mismatch.
- Difference in Page Layout, Div
Size, Image Orientation.
- CSS elements and HTML/HTML5 tags
support.
- Animation effects.
- Ajax, JQuery functionality
support.
- Browser incompatibility.
- Header and Footer Sections
- Date Formats
- Special Character Encoding
How
to perform Cross-Browser Testing:
The
first criteria, for performing a cross browser testing, is to select the most
important and the most used ones from a plethora of available browsers.
Reviewing the site analytic report of the application can aid the testers to
determine the main browsers for testing.
The
traditional way to get started with this testing procedure is to open up the
application on multiple browsers sequentially and cross check against a set of
desired results. Most of the time, the common browsers considered for testing
are the latest versions of Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. However due to
considerable differences in the operating system, the following browsers need
to be considered:
- Google Chrome (Windows and Mac)
- Internet Explorer (Windows, Version 7 – 11)
- Mozilla Firefox(Windows and Mac)
- Safari (Windows and Mac)
- iPhone
- Droid
- Windows Phone
- iPad
By
testing the application in a preferred browser, an idea of the application
display and functionality is made. Then, testing is started with the primitive
versions of the Internet Explorer gradually moving up the versions. This helps
to identify the issues that are specifically related to Internet Explorer. When testing with all the desktop browsers
are completed, focus is shifted on the mobile web browsers.
Testing
with all the desktop and mobile browsers can be a long process. Hence, the main
checks performed include display, animations and those functionality that use
background processes.
Testing
Tools:
To
automate the process of testing, there are certain cross browser testing tools
available in the market. They are mentioned as follows:
Free:
- Spoon Browsers
- Browsershots
- IE NetRenderer
- IE Tab
- IE Tester
- Microsoft SuperPreview
Paid:
- Browsera
- Adobe browserLab
- BrowserCam
- Browsereal
- Cross Browser Testing
- Browserling
- Selenium Web Driver
- Rapise
There
are certain versions of browsers which have gone almost extinct or those which
are very troublesome. Fixing application issues may not be possible or might
not be worth the trouble. In such cases, rather than fixing all style and
animation issues, the main focus can be put on functionality and usability.
Conclusion:
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