Best Practices for Writing Cross-Browser Automation Test Scripts

Integrating automation testing with modern application test cases like cross-browser testing massively boosts the dependability, productivity, and overall quality of the testing infrastructure. It is because the system can automatically initiate these testing instances whenever it detects any severe change in the source code.

 

However, while integrating all these processes in the application development and testing infrastructure, the developers and testers must be aware of certain practices to ensure the smooth execution of this process. For instance, they must choose the correct tools and platforms that align with the company practices and the preferences of the testing team.

 

So, this article will discuss some of the best practices for writing cross-browser automation test scripts. We will also understand some of the basics of cross-browser automation testing and how companies can utilize the full potential of this advanced testing process.

 

Understanding Automated Cross-Browser Testing

 

We can define automated cross-browser testing as automatically running tests on web apps across multiple browser versions, operating systems, and device specifications. The main objective of this process is to ensure that the application functions correctly and consistently regardless of the browser used by the end users.

 

To properly understand the working mechanism of automated cross-browser testing, let us take a quick look at its typical working procedure:

 

●      Creating the Test Scripts

 

The first step in this process is to create the test scripts using a test automation framework such as Cypress.io, TestCafe, Selenium WebDriver, or Puppeteer. The developers can use these scripts to provide instructions for interacting with the web apps. Some expected interaction methods include filling out forms, clicking buttons, and verifying web elements.

 

●      Performing the Configuration Setup

 

The next step is configuring the testing environment to support cross-browser testing. This process will include setting up multiple browser environments such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge. The developers can perform this setup process locally or using cloud-based testing services like LambdaTest. LambdaTest is an AI-powered test orchestration and execution platform that lets you run manual and automated tests at scale with over 3000+ real devices, browsers, and OS combinations.

 

●      Script Execution

 

The next step involves executing the automated cross-browser test scripts on the target browsers and operating systems. The automation framework will launch the target browsers, navigate the web app, and perform the specified actions and validations. Based on the test execution process, the system will automatically application’s expected behavior and the status of the application.

 

●      Validating and Reporting

 

During the execution process, the automation framework will also validate the application’s expected behavior by comparing it against predetermined expectations. The test results will indicate whether the application functions correctly across all test environments and browsers.

 

●      Analysis and Debugging

 

Finally, after completing the test cases, the automation testers and developers can analyze the test results to identify any inconsistencies or issues across different browsers. Moreover, modern automation testing frameworks generate highly intuitive and visually attractive reports for quickly navigating to the faulty elements of the app.

 

So, the developers can easily justify the integration of cross-browser automation, properly process it, and forward the application to the production phase.

 

Benefits of Initiating Cross-Browser Automation

 

To justify the integration of cross-browser automation adequately, let us take a quick look at some of its major benefits:

 

●      Increased Efficiency

 

By running the test cases across multiple browsers simultaneously or in a parallel configuration, the testers can significantly reduce the time required compared to manual testing processes.

 

●      Improved Consistency

 

The integration of significant browser tests ensures that the application behaves correctly across different browsers and reduces the likelihood of browser-specific issues. It is a significant parameter as thousands of browsers are quickly available.

 

●      Extended Scalability

 

By using this advanced testing process, the developers and testers can easily scale the testing efforts to cover a wide range of browsers and operating systems. It ensures comprehensive test coverage even after several updates to the application that can add various new features.

 

●      Scope for Regression Testing

 

As we already discussed earlier, modern applications go through various updates that add new features and can hamper the functioning of the existing elements of the application. So, by executing automated cross-browser testing, the developers can rerun the test cases quickly and easily, making them ideal for regression testing.

 

Thus, this process helps to verify that any new changes to the application infrastructure do not introduce regressions in the browser compatibility.

 

In short, we can say that automated cross-browser testing is a crucial practice for ensuring the quality and compatibility of web applications across various browser environments. Since many users do not update their browser versions frequently and are still using legacy devices, automated cross-browser testing is important to ensure app compatibility and expand the audience’s reach.

 

Best Practices for Creating Automated Cross-Browser Test Scripts

 

Writing cross-browser automation test scripts requires careful consideration and adherence to best practices. This approach helps to ensure consistency and reliability across different browsers. To simplify this process for the new automation testers and developers, we have mentioned some of the best practices in this segment:

 

1.     Using a Reliable Test Automation Framework

 

The testers must choose a test automation framework that supports cross-browser testing. Some of the most popular options currently available include Selenium WebDriver and Cypress.io. While using these frameworks, the developers can also access separate APIs for interacting with web elements across different browsers, operating systems, and device combinations.

 

2.     Integration of Cloud Testing

 

Real device testing is an integral part of automated cross-browser testing as it helps the developers verify the functioning of the application on real devices. However, setting up and maintaining a real device testing branch within the company is expensive, hectic, and complex. Instead, the developers can use cloud platforms with access to thousands of real devices through remote servers.

 

These platforms also have thousands of outdated browser versions and legacy devices for further expanding the test reach. Modern cloud platforms like LambdaTest also allow developers to integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning to boost the testing environment’s capabilities further.

 

Some of the additional features of these platforms include access to visually appealing test reports, availability of native bug trackers, and accessing live test activity logs.

 

 

3.     Identifying the Target Browsers for the App

 

A crucial step for improving the capabilities of automated cross-browser testing is identifying the target browsers according to the application requirements. For this process, the app-developing company should thoroughly survey its target audience and understand their requirements. It is a great practice for new companies to begin with the most popular options in the current market, like Firefox, Chrome, and Safari.

 

This information will also allow the testers to focus their efforts and prioritize the browsers to provide their customers with the best end-user experience.

 

4.     Using Modern Browser Automation Tools

 

Based on their chosen automation testing framework, the developers can programmatically access various browser automation tools to launch and control different browser versions. These tools will also allow the simulation of user interactions to verify the behavior of the web across multiple browsers. However, the developers need to install the respective drivers for all of these browsers to ensure the smooth execution of the testing process.

 

5.     Handling the Browser-Specific Behaviors

 

It is common knowledge that different browsers may interpret CSS, HTML, and JavaScript codes differently. These interpretation changes can lead to browser-specific behaviors. Therefore, the developers must focus on writing test files that are resilient to these differences. For instance, they can deploy browser-specific selectors and conditional logic techniques.

 

6.     Avoiding the Browser-Specific Features

 

We advise the testers to avoid using browser-specific features or APIs in the application source code. It is because these features may not be supported in all browsers. So, the most effective approach is to stick to standard web technologies and APIs that can help ensure compatibility across different browsers and other device combinations.

 

7.     Implementing XPath and CSS Selectors

 

The cross-browser testers and developers should prefer using XPath and CSS selectors to locate web elements in the test scripts. It is because, compared to traditional locator strategies like ID or class names, these locators are more robust and reliable across different browser and device combinations.

 

Moreover, these are also useful when the application developers work with dynamic elements that change according to device or user interactions.

 

8.     When handling asynchronous elements

 

Developers need to remember that web applications often rely on asynchronous operations such as animations and AJAX requests. Therefore, it is crucial to deploy appropriate synchronization techniques such as polling and explicit waits. These techniques will help the testers to ensure that the test scripts wait for these operations to complete before proceeding to the next phase.

 

Using this approach, the developers can also eliminate common errors like false positives and negatives from the final cross-browser test reports.

 

9.     Executing the Test Scripts in Parallel

 

Modern applications consists of thousands of elements that must perform seamlessly to ensure the smooth execution of the entire infrastructure. However, if the developers are executing automated cross-browser testing on each of these elements individually, it would take a lot of time to wrap up the testing phase.

 

We would advise the developers to integrate parallel testing so that they can run thousands of test cases on different configurations and machines simultaneously. Many experts believe that properly including parallel testing with automatic cross-browser testing helps complete the testing phase within a few days.

 

The Bottom Line

 

By following all the best practices we discussed in this article, testers can write cross-browser automation test scripts that are maintainable, reliable, and compatible with a wide range of browsers. So, these testing processes will ensure a consistent user experience and preferences across different platforms.

 

However, we would like to advise the developers and testers that the exact strategies and practices for executing cross-browser automation testing will vary depending on the target audience, development standards set by the app developing companies, and the testers’ preferences. It is also essential for the developers and testers to remain informed about all the new trends and innovations in the automation testing segment.

 

This process will help them to integrate all the latest technologies that can massively improve their productivity, reliability, scalability, and quality of the automated cross-browser test cases.