How can you ensure QA automation compatibility with different platforms?

1 Choose a cross-platform tool

The first step is to choose a QA automation tool that supports cross-platform testing. This means that the tool can run your scripts on different platforms without requiring significant changes or adaptations. Some examples of cross-platform tools are Selenium, Appium, Cypress, and TestComplete. These tools allow you to write your scripts in a common language, such as Python, Java, or JavaScript, and execute them on multiple platforms using drivers, emulators, or simulators.

2 Use platform-specific locators

The next step is to use platform-specific locators to identify the elements you want to interact with in your scripts. Locators are the expressions that tell your tool how to find and locate an element on a web page or an app. Different platforms may have different ways of naming or structuring their elements, so you need to use the appropriate locator for each platform. For example, if you are testing a web application, you can use CSS selectors, XPath expressions, or HTML attributes to locate elements on different browsers. If you are testing a mobile application, you can use accessibility IDs, class names, or UIAutomator expressions to locate elements on different devices.

3 Follow coding standards and best practices

The third step is to adhere to coding standards and best practices when writing scripts. These guidelines aid in crafting clean, readable, and maintainable code, as well as preventing common errors and bugs that can compromise the script's performance and compatibility. For instance, use descriptive and consistent naming conventions for variables, functions, and classes. Include comments and documentation to explain the code's logic and purpose. Furthermore, modular and reusable code should be used to avoid duplication and redundancy. Additionally, data-driven and keyword-driven approaches should be employed to separate test data and actions from the code. Assertions and error handling should be implemented to verify test results and handle exceptions. Finally, version control and code review should be utilized to manage code changes and ensure quality.

4 Perform cross-platform testing

The final step is to perform cross-platform testing to verify your script's compatibility and functionality on different platforms. Cross-platform testing is the process of running your scripts on various platforms and comparing the results. You can perform cross-platform testing manually or using a cloud-based service. Manual cross-platform testing involves setting up and configuring your own test environments and devices and running your scripts on them. Cloud-based cross-platform testing involves using a service that provides you access to a large pool of test environments and devices and running your scripts on them remotely. Some examples of cloud-based services are BrowserStack, Sauce Labs, and LambdaTest.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?