How to make a website compatible with all browsers?
Before initiating tests on random browsers impulsively, it’s important for teams to answer two important questions:
- Who is the target audience?
- What is the current browser market share among the target audience?
Teams should consider testing their websites on browsers that cover maximum market share. For example, considering the current browser market share worldwide, it would make more sense for teams to test their websites on Chrome, Firefox, and Safari on priority.
Following are three ways using which teams can make websites compatible with popular browsers:
- Using mobile/desktop browser emulators for each browser
- Setting-up on-premise device labs
- Using a cloud-based platform that enables you to perform cross browser testing on browsers installed on real devices
Browser emulators help you verify how your website looks and works on different browsers. However, manually downloading desktop and mobile browser emulators and testing web-pages on each is both time and effort-intensive. Doing this may lead to missed deadlines and delayed releases.
On the other hand, teams can also set up on-premise device labs and update it at regular intervals as per market trends. However, this option usually tends to be expensive for small organizations as it involves significant, ongoing investments.
The best alternative is to opt for cloud-based platforms that provide teams with a real device cloud for cross browser testing.
QAs get instant access to browsers installed on real android and iOS mobile devices as well as desktop devices. They can perform live manual testing of their websites on browsers running on real mobile and desktop devices. This allows teams to test websites in real user conditions. Besides teams can also leverage a Cloud Selenium Grid to perform automated cross browser tests on desired browser-device combinations.
In a digitally-driven world, robust websites are integral to building brand equity. Having said this, it becomes imperative to know how to make cross-browser compatible websites.
