How can you test cross-platform UI on different devices?

Responsive design while development and testing in cross-platform UI has become a common thing as end users use different browsers in web and mobile. In whatever platform, the user experience should not be compromised and the functionality should work as intended.

One thing I have found helpful in my years of experience as a developer and as a team lead are listed as follow: - the developers must be equipped with adequate knowledge of device screens and cross-platforms UI responsiveness. - the tester should have a cross-platform tool for responsiveness test such as lamdaLT for web app - Also, making app UI to be responsive in all devices may not be 100% possible but the product owner can make a decision based on the business niche and their user most used devices.

Cross-platform UI testing means making sure your app works well on different devices. You can do this by using emulators, simulators, and real devices. Cloud services offer remote access to a wide range of devices. Automation helps with testing, and you should integrate it into your development process. Beta testing with user feedback is crucial. Visual regression testing spots visual differences. Accessibility testing ensures everyone can use your app on various devices.

Along with these points, expertise of the development team and flexibility of designs matter a lot in this aspect. - In my entire work experience as lead and developer, Many times the desired UI can be acheived with huge or with a single line of code and also by developing reusable blocks. This solely depends on the knowledge of developers. Maintainability of the code depends on this otherwise resulting in rabbit holes. - Second factor is design aspect. Not all the data visible on large screens cannot be fitted in smaller screens. Flexible designs will help in this. Keeping these points in mind along with rigorous testing, smooth cross platform experiences can be developed.

Prioritize mobile-first, focus on performance, and test rigorously. Keep the user experience at the forefront, and regularly update and optimize your responsive designs to adapt to evolving devices and user expectations.

Testing on multiple browsers with most popular combinations are not of a worry as its mostly available with testing team, your hands are tight when it comes to testing it on multiple devices which are not available at all within organization that is where public device farm solution can help, but when it comes to devices which are at different offices or with different team member then private device farm solution like AstroFarm comes into play. Also, when you are specifically in health sector and data is very crucial organization tend to avoid public device farms like AWS or so and go for private ones like AstroFarm.

To test cross-platform UI on different devices, use emulators, simulators, and real devices for accurate assessments. Ensure responsive design across screen sizes. Leverage cloud testing services for a wider device range. Incorporate user testing for valuable feedback. For web-based UIs, employ cross-browser testing tools. Implement automation testing with frameworks like Appium or Selenium. Confirm compatibility with various OS versions. Assess performance on different devices for smooth operation. Validate accessibility and localization for diverse users. This comprehensive approach ensures a consistent user experience across a range of devices and platforms.

Some kinds of device tests could be changing the resolution of target screen. And with an framework of tests you can guarantee the user work flow.

Choosing the right devices and browsers to test is crucial to ensure a consistent user experience. By analyzing analytics data, conducting market research, and following best practices, you can select the most relevant options to meet the needs of your target audience and market.

You can see how your UI will look and function across different devices with an emulator or simulator. They also allow you to see how your UI responds under a mixture of conditions. Android Studio and Xcode's iOS Simulator allow you to demo devices during development. So you can see how your app renders on different screen sizes and resolutions. You can test interactions and animations to make sure they feel native on each platform. For web development, all major browsers come with built-in developer tools. Chrome (for example) can do all this from the dev tools: - Emulate mobile devices - Change screen sizes and resolutions - Simulate touch events - Throttle CPU and network speeds. - Run readability and accessibility tests

There around hundreds if not thousands of devices out there, and it would be virtually impossible to test all screen sizes/ devices. Instead you should be prioritising, the experiences of your audience. For example, If your audience mostly comes from iOS then prioritise testing iPhones and iPads. This is how you optimise your limited time to do testing with maximum impact.

Some industries and banks has many physical devices inside a room. The strategy is to get the mostly used devices,and when a bug is not solved used the simulator, the device is ready to help identify the bug

Starting out just using browser based tooling or local emulators is often enough, but AWS Devicefarm is a great alternative for companies who need full phones on demand

You can use Selenium to test Chrome and Firefox however using a cloud service is a much easier option and faster option if you are running hundreds to thousands of automated tests.

Automation significantly enhances testing efficiency, code quality, and allows us to cover more test scenarios. Its role is fundamental in achieving comprehensive and reliable testing outcomes.

Testing UI on actual device can be time-consuming and expensive, a more effective approach is to use a cloud-based testing service like Google Firebase Test Lab or AWS Device Farm, which allows you to test your UI on a variety of real devices. You can also use a tool like BrowserStack or Sauce Labs, which allows you to test your UI on different browsers and devices.

React expo is a good beginner friendly user interface (UI) testing setup ... Hence it's dominance in the mobile development sector.