The Importance of Cross Browser Testing

No two web browsers are created equal. Some browsers are only compatible with a set of operating systems, while others tout features that they claim to be lacking in their competitors, such as auto-updating and privacy mode. Certain browsers even limit a certain set of functionalities to a specific operating system. For example, the text-to-speech feature of Safari exclusively works with the Mac Operating system.

Then there are browsers which were once deemed as the pioneers of internet navigation and the frontiers in web exploration, but are now so under-used and vintage that today’s generation might even be oblivious to their former existence. With so many variables on the table, with a plethora of others underneath, it has a vast impact on the way that web applications and websites behave and display across different browsers. For this reason, while a web application is in the throes of completion, it is a viable idea to conduct cross-browser testing.

Why Should Cross Browser Testing Be Conducted?

A web application that runs perfectly as desired on one web browser might encounter some issues, or some of its vital functionalities might stop working altogether when run in another web browser. Additionally, there are a plethora of client components that can generate different results depending on the browsers they are run with, such as AJAX requests, Flash, JavaScript, Applets, and so on.

If you aspire for a professional looking, functional web application or website, cross-browser testing is a necessity. The web browsers on personal computers are not the only concern here, but with the ever-evolving advancement in phones and tablets with their web access capabilities, cross browser testing should extend to mobile phone web browsers as well. Here are some reasons why cross-browser testing should never be overlooked:

Your Customers Don’t Want To Be Restricted Toa Single Browser

The times of Internet Explorer or Netscape dominance are over and done with! The more customers you have and the more successful your web application is, the more their browser usage would lean towards the major web browsers of today, such as Google Chrome, Safari, or IE 9. If you don’t wish to lose customers because of your lack of support for any of the major thriving browsers today, you must consider testing your website across all of them.

Difference is in both Style and functionality

Just because your website works impeccably in one browser, the same can’t be assumed of the other major browsers. This is especially important with rich internet applications. Apart from the seemingly obvious aesthetics, the functionality might also differ. To verify the perfect functionality of the web application in different browsers, the best way is to repeat the same tests or use cases across browsers and automate comparisons of their differences regarding actions being taken or information being displayed.

Cutting Edge Technology Is Not Well Supported Equally In All Browsers

To leverage the most cutting-edge technology available in the industry, apart from verifying implementation in each of the browsers, the individual browser versions must also be taken into account. For instance, only the HTML5 standard delivers the promise of cross-platform portability, including mobile platforms. What works for one browser version might not be compatible with the other.

You Don’t Want To Maintain and Develop Separate Tests for Each Browser Platform

Creating automated tests that you can record in one browser and then repeat across the other supported browsers entails you to invest in an advanced automation technology. While it is perfectly possible to form cross browser tests through custom scripts, these custom cases won’t work for many corner cases.

This blog was originally published on the QualityKiosk blog.