A development team’s first task is to build a website or app. The next priority is ensuring maximum user functionality regardless of the environment. It shouldn’t matter if the visitor uses Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox to access your platform. Your web-based software should work flawlessly across all browsers and operating systems.

And that’s where cross-browser testing comes into play. It could be easy to do this manually for simple apps. But cross-browser checks will take time and effort if you are working on advanced software solutions. One of the automated testing benefits is that it ensures a computer runs these tests without human involvement and gives you more reliable results. Compared to manual testing, which requires human participation and takes more time, automated testing reduces the time of the process and is run by pre-written scripts.

Can automated tests simplify the process? Are they a smart choice when performing cross-browser checks? That’s what we are trying to discover in our detailed analysis below!

The Basics of Cross-Browser Testing

Let’s say you have a Windows PC and use Google Chrome to browse the internet. Once you are on the move, you switch to Safari installed on your iPhone. People often use different browsers depending on the device. And there’s the matter of preference. Some would use Chrome, but others stick to Opera or Firefox.

From the developer’s perspective, you want each visitor to have a premium experience when using your app or website. The only way to ensure that is cross-browser testing. It involves extensive checks that your software works as expected on different browsers running on various operating systems and devices.

What Does Cross-Browser Testing Check?

Cross-browser tests start by analyzing the core functions of a web-based app or site across different browsers. It analyzes the time to execute an interaction or transaction. For example, how long does it take to create an account or process a payment? Cumulative layout shift and largest contentful paint are some other parameters that could provide useful data.

The common cross-browser testing approach involves analyzing three areas:

  • Design. Your website looks different when accessed from a PC and smartphone. Font problems, element locations, and image stretching are common issues. Cross-browser testing serves to optimize the app’s design.
  • Functionality. Some buttons might not work on portable devices, although they work on PCs. It happens that functionalities like data handling and modals don’t work in some browsers. Testing helps find these bugs and fix them.
  • Specific device options. If you use a PC or laptop, there’s the right-click function. But on mobiles, a long screen press is necessary to activate the right-click option. It’s another area you should check with cross-browser tests. 

Manual and Automatic Cross-Browser Testing

You have two options to perform cross-browser and other tests during the development. The first choice is manual testing, which requires a human tester. As for cross-browser compatibility, manual tests are convenient for exploratory checks and early development stages.

The alternative is automatic testing. It’s a modern approach that only requires an engineer to prepare for the test. From there, the computer takes over and performs the necessary analysis. Automated tests come with many benefits, especially if they are well-integrated into your development process.

How Automation Simplifies Cross-Browser Testing?

Developers can use test automation tools developed by experts. These interactive testing solutions come with a relatively short learning curve. Once an engineer becomes adept at using the tool, they’ll find it easy to create a test.

But how can automation simplify cross-browser testing? Here are the major benefits to expect during the process!

Create Once, Run Unlimited Times

Cross-browser testing involves checking the same things in different programs. And it often happens you encounter a bug, meaning you need to fix it. After doing that, it’s necessary to perform another test to confirm the feature works as expected. That could be a tedious process if performed by a manual tester.

Automated tests are perfect for repetitive tasks. You only create them once, and they are ready to run multiple times. It’s possible to make minor adjustments to ensure it fits the updated test requirements.

Allow Engineers to Work on Other Tasks

Software testing is important, but many developers find it takes too much time. If staff members do the checks manually, they can’t work on anything else. But if a computer runs an automated test, team members can focus on other tasks. It improves productivity and assists in sticking to the schedule and releasing the app when planned.

Accelerate the Feedback Cycle and Receive Reliable Results

A computer performing an automated test doesn’t need babysitting. It can keep processing data outside of working hours. Most machines are capable of performing checks faster than humans. Additionally, they create reports automatically and send them to relevant staff immediately after finishing the test. These details speed up the feedback cycle significantly.

You can also expect maximum reliability in delivering test results. If you designed a test correctly, there’s no risk of a computer making an error during the process. Manual testers are subject to mistakes, especially with tedious tasks like cross-browser testing. But computers will deliver 100% reliable results that you can trust.

Final Thoughts

Automated testing doesn’t only simplify confirming cross-platform compatibility, but it benefits the entire testing process. Engineers can work on other tasks while a computer performs a cross-browser test and delivers a report. The feedback will be reliable, and automated tests will accelerate the testing cycle. It helps identify potential problems and fix them as soon as possible. Thanks to that, the final website or app version will have better chances of being entirely bug-free. That makes automated testing a wise investment for any software development company!

Also Read: How To Choose The Best Cross Browser Testing Tool?