Streamlining Cross-Browser Testing Processes: Leveraging Tools and Techniques for Enhanced Efficiency

In 2024, technological evolution has reached a point where browser testing is deemed essential for any website.

With widespread awareness of the importance of cross browser testing, the focus now shifts to meeting this requirement. 

Numerous cloud-based software testing platforms and tools offer real testing environments to evaluate websites across multiple browser/OS/device combinations.

This article will explore cross-browser testing tools and techniques to enhance efficiency.

What Is Cross-Browser Testing?

Cross-browser testing is the process that involves evaluating whether a website's functionality remains unchanged when accessed by end-users from various browsers. It is also utilized to ensure browser compatibility for web applications.

Alternatively, cross-browser testing is a form of non-functional testing wherein websites facilitate efficient testing across different browsers.

Importance of Cross-Browser Testing

Cross-browser testing is crucial for several key reasons:

• With the multitude of browsers, devices, and operating systems available, your website or web application can render and function differently for users. Cross-browser testing identifies these inconsistencies, allowing you to provide a seamless, reliable experience across all supported environments.

• Testing on limited browsers like Chrome, you risk alienating a significant portion of your potential user base using other browsers like Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc. Comprehensive cross-browser testing ensures your digital product works as intended for the maximum number of users.

• Identify compatibility issues, different browser rendering engines, JavaScript support, and performance characteristics that can lead to compatibility issues with your code and design. Cross-browser testing surfaces these problems so you can implement workarounds, polyfills, or updates to maintain functionality.

• Failure to test increases the likelihood of shipping a product with visual defects, broken features, or performance bottlenecks on certain platforms. Identifying and fixing these preemptively prevents costly rework and negative user feedback post-deployment.

• A website or app that performs inconsistently reflects poorly on your brand's quality and professionalism. Cross-browser testing helps deliver a polished, reliable product that strengthens user trust and retention.

Steps to Perform Cross-Browser Testing

Here are the steps of how to do cross-browser testing:

1. Requirement Analysis:

   • Based on your target audience and business requirements, determine the browsers, devices, and platforms your website must support.

   • Analyze browser usage statistics, market trends, and organizational policies to prioritize the browser configurations for testing.

   • Gather information about specific browser features, APIs, or technologies your application relies on, as these may require additional testing attention.

2. Test Planning:

   • Develop an all-encompassing test blueprint delineating the extent, goals, and tactics for cross-browser testing.

   • Identify the types of testing required across different browser environments.

   • Determine the resources needed, including testing tools, devices, and personnel with relevant expertise.

   • Establish a schedule and allocate time for executing tests, analyzing results, and fixing identified issues.

3. Test Environment Setup:

   • Set up a dedicated testing environment that accurately replicates the production environment and supports multiple browser configurations.

   • Install and configure the required browsers, versions, and platforms on physical or virtual machines.

   • Ensure the testing environment is isolated and controlled to minimize external factors that could influence test results.

   • Use cloud-based testing services or browser emulators/simulators as alternatives.

4. Test Case Development:

   • Create detailed test cases and test scripts that cover various scenarios, functionalities, and user interactions within your application.

   • Include test cases specific to browser-related issues, such as rendering, JavaScript compatibility, multimedia support, and responsive design.

   • Allocate test cases based on risk, complexity, and business impact to optimize testing efforts.

   • Automate test cases whenever possible to streamline the execution process and enable continuous testing.

5. Test Execution:

   • Execute the test cases manually or using automated testing tools across the defined browser configurations.

   • Record and document any issues, defects, or inconsistencies observed during testing.

   • Capture screenshots, video recordings, or other artifacts to aid in issue reproduction and analysis.

   • Ensure thorough test coverage by executing tests on different browser versions, resolutions, and viewport sizes.

6. Test Cycle Closure:

   • Analyze and prioritize the identified issues based on their severity and impact on user experience.

   • Work closely with developers to reproduce and investigate the root causes of issues.

   • Verify and validate the fixes implemented by developers across all supported browser configurations.

   • Maintain comprehensive test reports and metrics for future reference and continuous improvement.

   • Conduct regression testing to ensure fixes do not introduce new issues or break existing functionalities.

Best Tools for Cross-Browser Testing

Let's explore the best tools for cross-browser testing:

LambdaTest 

LambdaTest is an AI-powered test orchestration and execution platform allowing manual and automated tests at scale across over 3000+ real devices, browsers, and OS combinations. It is described as a scalable cloud grid and one of the best cross-browser testing tools, supporting test automation with frameworks like Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, Appium, Espresso, and XCUITest.

Key features of LambdaTest:

• Run automation tests on an online browser farm of 3000+ real desktop and mobile environments using various programming languages and frameworks.

• Perform real-time cross-browser testing on the real device cloud.

• Expedite test automation with HyperExecute – a next-gen end-to-end test orchestration cloud.

• Conduct smart visual regression testing on the cloud to identify visual deviations.

• Integrate with 120+ third-party tools for CI/CD, project management, codeless automation, and more.

• Enable localhost testing of web and mobile applications.

• Facilitate geolocation testing of web and mobile apps across 53+ geographies.

• Perform accessibility testing on Chrome using the Accessibility DevTools Chrome extension.

• Utilize the Chromium-based LT Browser 2.0 for faster responsive testing across 50+ pre-installed device viewports.

Selenium Box 

Selenium Box is a tool that helps organizations simplify their Selenium and Appium infrastructure for cross-browser web and mobile testing. It enables running automated web and mobile tests behind corporate firewalls or deploying in a private cloud for Linux OS, targeting enterprises with high data privacy requirements.

Key features of Selenium Box:

• Provides high scalability to grow with user needs.

• Comes with maintenance-free browsers pre-tested for functionality and compatibility.

• Integrates with CI/CD environments for continuous testing.

• Allows manual access to all browsers.

• Offers system usage tracking, monitoring tool integration, and advanced test reporting.

Ranorex Studio 

Ranorex Studio is a powerful yet easy-to-use cross-browser testing tool for web testing, offering out-of-the-box features like integration with Ranorex Web Test for web scraping and functional testing.

Key features of Ranorex Studio:

• Creates automated UI tests using simple drag-and-drop actions without coding or scripting.

• Develops test cases that are easy to build, maintain, and learn.

• Incorporates test automation to reduce manual efforts, boost productivity, and enhance software quality.

• Supports parallel testing to execute test cases on multiple devices simultaneously.

TestComplete 

TestComplete is a cross-browser testing tool that automates browser compatibility testing across different configurations and operating systems. It can handle and identify dynamic web elements using built-in support for 500+ controls and third-party frameworks.

Key features of TestComplete:

• Supports different programming languages like JavaScript, Python, C++, C#, VBScript, Delphi, etc.

• Runs tests in parallel across different real environments without setup or configuration.

• Utilizes object recognition using AI and property-based methods.

• Integrates with CI/CD tools and testing frameworks.

Endtest 

Endtest is a test automation platform that allows the development of end-to-end automated tests. It supports automated cross-browser testing, access control, and parameterized testing. Users can also test applications using IP addresses from various locations through Endtest's geolocation testing feature.

Key features of Endtest:

• Offers email and SMS testing for web and mobile test suites.

• Runs API tests to ensure top-notch product quality.

• Performs end-to-end testing for web and mobile applications.

• Integrates with tools like Slack, Jenkins, and Jira.

• Provides next-generation test execution capabilities.

Virtuoso 

Recent advancements in Machine Learning (ML), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Natural Language Processing (NLP) have made adopting BDD more accessible than ever. With Virtuoso, you can import specifications, automatically generate a test framework, and craft fully executable functional end-to-end tests. 

Leveraging AI capabilities, Virtuoso streamlines end-to-end testing across diverse browsers, operating systems, and mobile devices.

Key features of Virtuoso:

• Enables authoring tests in natural language for no-code automation.

• Generates tests from requirements or wireframes before creating an app.

• Allows creating and storing API calls for functional tests.

• Smoothly integrates with popular tools like GitHub, Slack, Microsoft Azure, and more.

• Offers support for live authoring, codeless test authoring, root cause analysis, etc.

QA Wolf 

QA Wolf is an end-to-end testing automation tool that provides organizations with a pool of highly skilled QA engineers to create, run, and repeat complex and critical test cases, eliminating the burden of in-house QA efforts.

Key features of QA Wolf:

• Offers end-to-end test coverage, comprehensive test plan strategy, test maintenance, and bug reports.

• Supports running test cases in parallel.

• Provides an easy-to-use app for real-time status updates.

• Integrates with existing internal systems to give a real-time view of software app performance.

Comparium 

Comparium enables cross-browser compatibility testing on different platforms by taking screenshots of web resources across various browser and OS combinations, comparing results in manual and auto modes, and running live-time tests.

Key features of Comparium:

• Provides consolidated screenshots from different browsers for manual or auto comparison.

• Automatically detects and highlights visual discrepancies.

• Supports all the latest web browsers.

• Offers real-time testing to connect to desired browsers and operating systems without additional software.

Autify 

Autify is an automation testing solution for web and mobile applications, empowering users to develop and execute intricate test suites while generating comprehensive test reports. It offers extensive test coverage and facilitates visual regression testing to detect discrepancies in application visuals.

Key features of Autify:

• Records interactions using the Autify Recorder Chrome extension.

• Runs tests on Windows, macOS, Linux, and web and mobile browsers.

• Allows testing on real devices.

• It integrates with tools such as Jenkins, Slack, and TestRail.

Best Practices for Cross-Browser Testing

Following these best practices can help you tackle  cross-browser testing challenges effectively:

• Prioritize Popular Browsers: Assign greater importance to testing on broadly used web browsers like Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge. These browsers boast large user bases and are more likely to be utilized by your visitors.

• Regularly Update Your Browser List: Ensure your roster of target browsers remains current. Browsers frequently release new versions, and older versions may lose relevance over time. Test on the latest browser iterations to tackle potential issues before they increase.

• Leverage Browser Developer Tools: Get acquainted with the developer tools provided in contemporary browsers. These tools enable you to scrutinize elements, debug JavaScript, and simulate various browser environments, simplifying, identifying, and resolving issues.

• Implement Graceful Degradation and Progressive Enhancement: Construct your website with a foundational experience that functions across all browsers and devices. Subsequently, it enhances the experience for modern browsers by integrating additional features. This strategy guarantees that all users have a functional experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, cross-browser testing stands as an essential phase in the development process to guarantee that your website or web application operates seamlessly across all commonly used browsers. While numerous tools exist for cross-browser testing, the tools delineated in this blog offer a spectrum of options catering to various budgets and requirements. These tools for cross-browser testing are poised to evolve and enhance further, furnishing even more effective solutions for ensuring compatibility across browsers.