Everything You Need to Know About Cross-Browser Compatibility Testing

What Is Cross-Browser Compatibility Testing?

Cross-browser compatibility testing ensures your application or website’s basic functionality operates correctly for users on different browser and OS combinations, devices, and versions.

The proliferation of devices, browsers, and OS versions continues to grow at a rapid pace. For QA and testing teams, that means cross-browser compatibility testing is more important than ever. Without it, the application you and your team worked so hard on is highly likely to glitch, malfunction, or altogether break depending on the browser it is being used with.

If testing all those combinations of browsers and devices seems like a daunting task, do not fear. We have got you covered for everything you need to know about cross-browser compatibility testing to ensure your application functions the way you want it to.

Read along or jump to the section that interests you most: 

Getting Started With Cross-Browser Compatibility Testing

In order to release a quality application, you will need to test it against the most popular browsers — such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge to name a few — and all their versions and iterations. Throw in the variety of devices and the different versions of those, and you may be wondering where you even begin.

Cross-browser testing is a vital part of the software development lifecycle (SDLC). Delivering a uniform experience of your application across browsers and browser versions means a pleasant UX regardless of the avenue the user has taken to get there. When it comes to deploying cross-browser testing as an aspect of your testing strategy, it can depend on your workflow and scope of the project.

Another key component of this type of testing is selecting the appropriate cross-browser testing tool for your team’s needs. To complement the rise of modern web technologies, cross-browser test automation frameworks are progressing and offering a wider-than-ever set of options.

Our recommendation for effective cross-browser testing is to test your app on every potential combination of operating systems, screen sizes, and resolutions that your users have. This strategy guarantees that the software behaves consistently across all platforms. 

Cross-Browser Testing Compatibility Tools

Once you have some general familiarity with cross-browser testing, you will need to assess the tools available to you and decide which one works best for you, your team, and your goals. Whether you choose Playwright, Selenium, Cypress, or any other cross-browser compatibility testing tool, you will need to understand what these tools offer and how they can work for you.

Of the many cross-browser testing tools available to you, two of the most popular are Playwright and Cypress. They are prominent options that are taking hold of the automated testing sphere and enabling dev teams to successfully test according to their specific needs.

Another cross-browser testing tool that is especially popular among developers is Cypress. It is a JavaScript-based testing automation solution used for modern web automation. It enables teams to create web test automation scripts and enables frontend developers and test automation engineers to write web tests in the de-facto web language that is JavaScript for web test automation.

Selenium allows teams to test on multiple browsers at once for their responsive or traditional websites. It provides a built-in grid capability and enables parallel testing and testing across browsers through various web drivers and language bindings support.

But there are many more cross-browser testing frameworks, including Gauge, and it is important to make sure your tools fit your needs — and your project. 

Cross-Browser Testing Compatibility Webinars

Maybe you are someone who learns by following examples. Or maybe you are feeling comfortable enough in your cross-browser compatibility testing skills by this point, and you just want to see a more detailed walkthrough of some of these tools. Luckily, we offer a wide range of webinars where you can hear directly from Perfecto experts about cross-browser testing challenges and tips to overcome them.

If you want to become a master at cross-browser testing, a good place to start with the two most popular frameworks in Cypress and Selenium. When cross-browser testing is utilized properly, it can enable a sustainable continuous testing workflow.

Yet as with any aspect of the software development lifecycle (SDLC), teams will typically face and work to overcome various cross-browser testing challenges.  

Keeping up with monthly browser updates, new releases, and the growing adoption of PWAs is challenging. It is important to know how to overcome these cross-browser testing challenges for more efficient and robust automation that the whole team can support. 

Cross-Browser Compatibility Testing By Industry

Cross-browser compatibility testing is a necessary step in the development of any application, but some applications offer features that are unique to a specific industry. Whether it means complying with industry regulations, handling sensitive information, or testing a complex use case, it is vital that your cross-browser testing tool can address these industry-specific needs.

Take, for example, banking applications. The banking or financial sector is one of the most complex from a quality assurance and regulations perspective. The requirements of a banking web application are vast — It can be accessed from various geographical locations, by different personas, and across multiple platforms, while needing to provide top-notch service to their customers. 

Cross-Browser Compatibility Testing With Perfecto

When it comes to cross-browser compatibility testing, you want to be sure you have all your bases covered. That means ensuring you have complete browser coverage, a secure environment to execute your tests, the ability to scale as your application’s needs require, and easy integration of your preferred testing tool and your testing platform.

One hallmark of an effective cross-browser testing strategy is the ability to test browsers in the cloud. It’s ideal for globally dispersed teams, or those that need the scalability only cloud-based solutions can offer. As your testing needs grow, it is important to have a testing platform that can grow with you. Be sure your team is able to scale at the speed you require.