Cross-browser testing: how to ensure your website is compatible

Cross-browser testing involves ensuring that a website or application works correctly on all browsers, operating systems and device types. Each browser interprets HTML, CSS and JavaScript differently.  

As a result, the visual or functional rendering may vary between Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Edge, and sometimes even between different versions of the same browser.

The goal of cross-browser testing is therefore to guarantee a consistent user experience, regardless of the device or software used.

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In a context where internet users browse on both Android smartphones and Macs with Safari, ignoring browser compatibility can lead to:

• display issues,
• functional bugs,
• a loss of conversions,

Testing allows you to identify errors specific to certain browsers before users encounter them. It is an essential step in ensuring smooth navigation and a reliable user experience.

Manual testing on remote devices

Manual testing involves manually launching your site on different browsers and devices, then visually observing the rendering and behaviour. This allows you to quickly identify display bugs, layout errors, or elements that do not respond as expected.

But in practice, this method quickly becomes time-consuming, especially if you need to cover multiple browser versions, different operating systems, or specific mobile devices. It can also be costly, as it requires access to a large fleet of physical terminals.

Automated testing with a low-code approach

Test automation is now essential for high-volume or frequently updated web projects. It allows you to reproduce complete user journeys (logging in, adding to basket, form validation, etc.) and run them automatically on a wide range of browsers, without human intervention each time.

Here are the key elements to check to ensure optimal compatibility:

• Display: design, images, fonts, H1/H2/H3 templates
• Features: buttons, forms, interactions, drop-down menus, cookie banners
• Performance: loading time, fluidity, responsiveness
• Accessibility: WCAG compliance
• Responsive compatibility: website behavior on different screen sizes and resolutions
• Security: SSL certificate recognized on all browsers
• Technical compatibility: API management, malformed tags, CSS3/HTML5 animation support

Good cross-browser testing starts with a clear strategy. We recommend defining a compatibility matrix based on your audience data in order to prioritize the browsers and systems actually used by your visitors.

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There is no need to test older versions : focus on the main browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge or Opera, in their current versions.

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Prioritize automating critical paths on your site, such as registration or the purchase funnel, and integrate these tests into your CI/CD pipeline to avoid regressions with each release.

Validating a website or application requires testing on different browsers and devices. Ensuring that every user has access to a stable and functional version helps to limit errors in production and improve the overall quality of the product.

Solutions such as kapptivate effectively meet this requirement by facilitating both remote manual testing and the automation of test scenarios, with an approach tailored to different team profiles.