Cross-Browser Testing Tools – Software Testing

Cross-browser testing tools are required when there is a need to test an application on multiple browsers. These tools will assist in ensuring that the web application functions correctly across all browsers. When both the server and client sides of the web application are accessed through several web browsers, this tool will be used. One can evaluate the application’s compatibility across several browsers with the help of these tools. Testing software on a single web browser isn’t always sufficient, which is why cross-browser testing techniques are necessary. The article focuses on discussing cross-browser testing.

What is Cross-Browser Testing?

Cross-browser testing tools allow testing the applications and websites end-to-end on both web and mobile across a variety of browsers. These tools are mostly cloud-based and allow you to conduct tests on browsers without installing the tool.

• Cross-browser testing is an important part of software testing. 
• It is a type of performance testing that allows the tester to check whether the website works as intended on all web browsers, mobile devices, and operating systems.
• It helps to deliver a consistent user experience across different devices, browsers, platforms, etc.

Features of Cross-Browser Testing Tool

The following are some of the key features that a good cross-browser testing tool must have:

1. Customer Support and Technical Support: The tool should have full technical support available for the users whether it’s a support team, documentation, or open-source resources.
2. Cloud-Based: The tool should be cloud-based so that a wide range of browsers and devices are accessible. 
3. Simple User Interface: The tool should be easy to use and navigate and the test results should be easy to view and access.
4. Test on Browsers: The tool should have the ability to run on a multitude of browsers without the need to install those browsers.

Types of Cross-Browser Testing

• Functional Cross-browser Testing: Make sure that every functional component of the web application functions as planned in all browsers. It guarantees that features like buttons, forms, links, and dynamic content behave consistently.
• Effective Cross-Browser Testing: Analyze how well the web application runs in various browser versions. It examines elements including responsiveness, resource usage and website load times.
• Cross-Browser Security Testing: Determine which security flaws may be browser-specific and fix them. It guarantees that the programme is safe and complies with security protocols on various browsers.
• Cross-Platform Testing: Analyze the web application’s performance across various operating systems. It confirms stable operation across many operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, etc.
• Browser Version Testing: Ascertain compatibility with various browser versions. To suit individuals with varying preferences or organizations with particular browser version needs, testing is conducted on many browser versions.

Why is Cross-Browser Testing Important?

• Erroneous display of website content: Different versions of operating systems interpret data in different ways thus some browsers may display the content of a website inappropriately, resulting in user disappointment.
• Ensure the best user experience: Non-functional variety of web application testing can ensure every user can have the best user experience.
• The website works properly: There should be no breaks in the layout and the website should work the same way in all browsers, OSes, or devices.
• Speed: There is always an issue with the speed of execution when the website is tested locally across different browsers on a cloud-based testing platform.
• Scalability: Before launching and updating the mobile application or the website one wants to see how the website appears on real devices. With cross-browser testing, it is possible to test the website in the exact environments before being alive. 
• Multiple testing options: Almost all cross-browser testing tools offer performance testing, responsive testing, localization testing, visualization testing, etc.
• Compatibility testing: Cross-browser testing tools that support code-less scripting make the testing process easier for non-programmers.

Benefits of Cross-Browser Testing Tools

• Testing on multiple OS:  Cross-browser testing tools help to test web applications on multiple operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Testing on multiple browsers: Cross-browser testing tools enable testing web applications on multiple browsers.
• Saves time: It helps to save time as there is no need to reinstall the browser multiple times.
• Testing on varying screen resolutions: It enables testing web applications on varying screen resolutions, devices such as PCs, laptops, or mobile devices.

The following top 10 Cross-Browser Testing Tools will be discussed here:

1. Browsershots
2. Sauce Labs
3. Browsera
4. QA Wolf
5. GhostLab
6. BrowserStack
7. Virtuoso
8. Selenium Box
9. LambdaTest
10. CrossBrowserTesting

1. Browsershots

Browsershots let’s evaluate a website across multiple browsers and operating systems. Because of its functionality and customization options, this is a popular browser compatibility testing tool. Cross-browser compatibility tests can be done with a variety of customization options, including browser type, operating system, screen size, color depth, JavaScript status, and Flash enable/disable options. Simply enter the URL of your website, pick the compatibility test parameters, and submit the test request. These steps must be repeated for each exam. This free browser compatibility test program allows you to snap screenshots of websites in a variety of browsers and operating systems. It works with 200 different browsers. The biggest disadvantage of this service is the time it takes to display the results while using multiple browsers, and it frequently displays a timeout error. Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, Safari, SeaMonkey, Arora, Dillo, Epiphany, Konqueror, Lynx, Luakit, Rekonq, and Midori are just a few of the browsers that are supported in all versions.

Key Features:

• Arora, Chrome, Dillo, Epiphany, Firefox, Iceweasel, Konqueror, Links, Laukit, Opera, SeaMonkey, and Safari are among the browsers supported.
• Desktop resolutions ranging from 640 px to 1600 px are tested.
• Change the color depth, disable JavaScript, and enable/disable Java and Flash.

2. Sauce Labs

It’s yet another cross-browser testing tool that allows us to run tests in the cloud across a variety of browsers, devices, and operating systems. We don’t need to set up a virtual machine because Sauce Labs is a cloud-based testing platform. Because this tool provides a secure testing protocol, we can test our application behind client firewalls. It’s the first platform to support both Microsoft Edge and Firefox’s Firebug plug-in for automated testing.

It aids in increasing software productivity since continuous testing provides instant feedback throughout the development cycle, making debugging simple and quick.

Key Features:

• On the Sauce testing cloud, it will run a variety of tests including integration tests, automated end-to-end tests, and unit tests.
• Our client will receive bug-free software as a result of this.
• Extensive debugging, test metrics, and sauce performance are just a few of the extra capabilities.
• It has a user-friendly interface for automation.

3. Browsera

It’s an online tool that’s used to test and report concerns with our website’s cross-browser design and scripting. It will repeatedly compare the output of each browser and check for conflicts in our sites, allowing us to swiftly resolve them. It can immediately test our website’s numerous pages. Once the test is over, it will also generate a report.

Key Features:

• It’s used to find JavaScript problems because they can cause our site to stop working and give users the wrong impression.
• It will make it simpler for us to test entire websites.
• The cross-browser layout issues will be detected automatically.
• HTTP basic authentication and application-based logins are both supported. To do so, we must assign the login field a unique Id and allow access to it.
• It checks websites that make use of AJAX and DHTML. Before testing, it will wait for the pages to finish loading.
• Because everything runs from the server cluster, we don’t need to install anything in this tool.

4. QA Wolf

QA Wolf, the new kid on the block, is a cutting-edge testing tool for the entire team. With almost 2,700 GitHub stars as of this writing, QA Wolf is a little-known gem that is quickly gaining traction. This testing solution places a premium on ease of use, making end-to-end test authoring quick, simple, and powerful enough for everyone on your team to participate. The code generation engine, in particular, distinguishes QA Wolf and earns it a place on our list. When you visit a website, QA Wolf generates clean Javascript test code, making it easy for anyone to create and maintain reliable tests. Developers can quickly modify the test code to perform more complex tasks.

Key Features:

• No installation or setup is necessary to create tests directly from the browser. It’s very easy to get started. Simply create a free account, enter the URL you’d like to test and browse your test pathways.
• Make a code version of your actions. No need to learn programming languages or write boilerplate code. When you browse a website, QA Wolf generates clean Javascript code, allowing anybody on your team to write tests.
• Run the code you’ve chosen again. If you only need to fix a couple of lines of code, don’t bother about rerunning the full test. For rapid debugging, QA Wolf allows you to re-run only the code you want.
• With a single click, run tests on Vercel/Netlify deployments or on a timer. Create tests and schedule them to run at your leisure.
• Parallelize all of your tests. Regardless matter how many tests you’re doing, you’ll have results in minutes.
• Slack and email notifications are available. The test results will be emailed directly to your inbox or corporate Slack channel, so everyone on your team will be aware of them.
• With the help of movies and records, you can learn about failures. With a video, logs, and the line of code the test failed on, you can rapidly understand and reproduce problems.
• Directly from the browser, rerun, and fix tests. Wait for another CI build instead of running the code locally. In the browser, QA Wolf allows you to fix and maintain your tests.

5. GhostLab

The GhostLab tool is used to test our app across various browsers and mobile devices at the same time. We can use this tool to open our locally installed browsers and connect a mobile device by scanning a QR code in the vicinity. When we are working on a local site, it assists us in developing our sites. It is available without further setup for both Windows and Mac operating systems.

Key Features:

• It will capture a screenshot of any connected device, explain it in the integrated editor, and then drag and drop it into our bug tracker.
• It’ll allow you to browse in sync.
• It will aid in the debugging of JavaScript with any clients who are connected.
• It will check the CSS and DOM on all connected devices, and if there are any changes in the DOM, it will update all linked devices instantly.
• Every time we make a change to the local files, it will restore all of our browsers.
• We can create, open, and connect to the GhostLab with a single click.

6. BrowserStack

It’s a cloud-based mobile and online testing platform that lets developers test their web and mobile apps across a variety of operating systems, browsers, and mobile devices. Live, App Live, Automate, and App Automate are the four major products of BrowserStack. We won’t have to set up or manage any devices or the VM [Virtual Machine] in this scenario. It will assist us in reducing costs, maintenance, and time, as well as providing stability for the proper structure of quality products and services.

Key Features:

• It’s used to find bugs and repair them right away.
• We can test the app on a wide range of browsers, including Safari, Google Chrome, Opera, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and others.
• With a single click, it will test our layouts and design on 1500+ desktop and mobile browsers.
• It’s used to test responsive web design on a number of screen sizes without having to manually check out each browser combination.
• It is extremely scalable because it meets our testing needs, which aids team expansion because all members have access to the devices.

7. Virtuoso

Virtuoso uses artificial intelligence to automate end-to-end testing on any browser, operating system, or device. Build functional tests with Natural Language Programming (plain English, like a manual test script), integrated API testing, and Visual Regression tests to get complete, codeless, end-to-end test coverage, guaranteeing your online and mobile web apps are up-to-date everywhere.

Key Features:

• For codeless test automation that works, write tests in Natural Language.
• Before your app is built, generate tests from requirements or wireframes. Eliminate test maintenance with AI-driven, self-healing capabilities.
• Recognize the source of test failures.
• In the cloud, run on any device, browser, or operating system at scale.
• API calls can be created by anyone and saved for use in functional testing.

8. Selenium Box

Selenium Box is a fully managed and scalable Enterprise Selenium Grid that works on-premises or in your corporate cloud. It enables automated web and mobile testing to be carried out behind corporate firewalls. Large businesses in high-risk areas such as banking, insurance, and medicine will benefit from the solution. Selenium Box combines the advantages of a SaaS solution with the security and performance of an on-premises or in-house solution.

Key Features:

• Deployment on-premises vs. corporate cloud
• Emulators/simulators, desktop browsers, and real-world devices
• Security does not necessitate the use of tunnels or external access.
• Fully managed and low-maintenance
• High scalability
• LDAP, CROWD, and other enterprise integrations

9. LambdaTest

LambdaTest is a cloud-based platform for testing cross-browser compatibility in web apps and websites. On LambdaTest’s scalable cloud grid, you can run automated Selenium scripts or even perform live interactive testing in real browser settings.

Key Features:

• Use a scalable Selenium grid with 2000+ browser setups to run Selenium automation tests.
• Automate your website’s screenshots and responsive testing.
• SSH Tunnel can be used to test your locally or privately hosted website.
• One-click bug logging to Asana, BitBucket, GitHub, JIRA, Microsoft VSTS, Slack, Trello, and other bug-tracking tools.

10. CrossBrowserTesting

The most well-known licensed tool is cross-browser testing. It works with a wide range of operating systems, as well as a huge number of different browsers, mobile browsers, and their versions. The automated screenshot, localhost support, and other features are among the extra features. With their cloud-based actual device lab, SmartBear’s CrossBrowserTesting ensures every web experience is great on any browser or mobile device. Remove your virtual machines and device lab from your system.

Key Features:

• This tool is used to put the app through its paces on real-world mobile devices.
• It’s used to test the application’s compatibility by comparing the public and locally hosted pages across different browsers.
• It’s used to step through the test cases in a live environment using a variety of devices and browsers.
• In any programming language, it will run our Appium and Selenium test scripts.
• After running the selenium scripts, it’s a good idea to run the screenshot.

Conclusion

In order to guarantee consistent functionality, performance, and user experience across a range of browsers, browser versions, devices, and operating systems, cross-browser testing is an essential component of web application development. Development teams may expand the application’s market reach, provide a dependable and consistent user experience, and increase trust in the dependability of their web-based goods by investing in it.