The efficiency of software products depends considerably on testing. The process of website testing or web page testing also follows along similar lines and involves a meticulous examination of a website or related software. With the rise of mobile technologies, enterprises are shifting from websites to web applications that serve similar functionalities, albeit with a difference in appeal and engagement. But the biggest question is how to test web applications manually. Before we explore more details of web app testing services let’s overview why web application testing is important.
Therefore, website testing or web application testing becomes a highly crucial concern for every enterprise. As the complexity of the design of websites increases every day, quality assurance professionals need to focus on best practices for website testing for ensuring desired user experience and website performance across various devices, browsers, and operating system platforms.
Best Web application Testing Practices: Explore How to Test a Website For Bugs?
Here are the top 10 websites testing best practices that help in producing accurate and credible test results without compromising testing time. Let’s overview this website testing checklist one by one…
- Mix Up Exploratory Testing with Traditional Techniques
One of the most efficient techniques for website testing is exploratory testing. Exploratory testing helps in reducing the testing time and discover additional defects. In exploratory testing, testers have to write and execute test cases in parallel while utilizing their creativity.
Most important of all, testers can address the shortcomings of exploratory testing by integrating it with various black-hat and white-hat software testing techniques. Furthermore, the integration would also help in the production of test results with higher reliability and lower time investment.
- Include Third-party Applications, Extensions, and Plugins in Testing
Testers should notice that every web application utilizes many third-party extensions, applications, and plugins. These resources are essential for improving the performance and functionality of web applications without writing additional code. However, the quality of each plugin, application, or extension can differ considerably.
Therefore, testers have to verify the compatibility of plugins and extensions with the web application. In addition, testers should also identify vulnerabilities in a plugin or extension that could have a negative impact on the website’s performance. Similarly, it is also important to check for the impact of third-party applications for live chat, RSS feed, social media, search, or embedded video functionalities.
- Cross-Browser Compatibility Testing
Websites should be mobile-friendly because generally, users prefer to access websites on their mobile devices. Many enterprises choose a responsive web design for ensuring that their websites perform efficiently on computers as well as mobile devices with a specific codebase.
Developers should create responsive websites with open technologies such as CSS3, JavaScript, and HTML5. Therefore, it is essential for testers to perform cross-browser compatibility testing. As a result, the tester can verify that a website is accessible on different versions of specific web browsers.
- Collaborate with the Development Team
A large number of organizations are choosing DevOps for unifying software development and testing activities. As a result, QA professionals should not only test a web application across the software development lifecycle but also ensure collaboration with developers, clients, and business analysts. Coordination between testers and programmers and IT professionals can help them in functioning as a single unit for software development.
Read also: Web and Mobile Application Testing Checklist
- Never Underestimate Sanity Testing
Many testers undermine the importance of sanity testing by assuming it is an ancillary element of regression testing. However, sanity testing helps in the evaluation of features and functionality in web applications in a limited duration of time. In addition, sanity testing can also help in checking the functionality of the web application after code changes or bug fixes. Sanity testing is undoubtedly a proven instrument for testers to reduce the amount of time in testing.
- Think like a Hacker
Website testing must also focus on the emulation of end-users for obtaining a precise estimate of user experience. However, testing professionals could not review the website’s security accurately through the emulation of end-users. On the contrary, it is important to emulate the actions of cybercriminals and hackers to achieve better test results. Just like in the case of hackers, testers should also look for potential paths for accessing a web application without any resistance.
- Select the Ideal Parameters for Usability Testing
Among the many important aspects of website testing, usability testing always grabs the top spot. Testers should always evaluate the user interface and user experience of a website while testing for generating accurate results. However, best practices indicate the selection of ideal parameters for ensuring comprehensive usability testing. Some of the notable parameters of usability testing that testers should take into account are UI design, content readability, speed, accessibility, and navigability.
- Ensure that the URL String is Immune to Modifications
Security features of a website are undoubtedly the most critical aspect of website testing for QA professionals. Testers should evaluate the efficiency of the web application in maintaining the security of user data and enterprise data. However, cybercriminals could modify the URL string for redirecting users to malicious websites or accessing sensitive data. Certain malicious websites can install malware on the user’s system or force them to share sensitive data such as personal financial information. Therefore, testers must check for possibilities of manipulation of URLs in the process of security testing for a website.
- Depend on Cycles for Load Testing
Load testing is a formidable aspect of website testing as it helps in evaluating the performance of a website under normal and peak load conditions. In addition, testers could utilize sophisticated and comprehensive test automation tools for accelerating load testing.
On the other hand, it is important to execute load testing in cycles for verifying the performance of web applications under different load conditions. In addition, testers should ensure incremental implementation of load testing by increasing the use load gradually. The slow and gradual increase of the user load can help in pinpointing the exact point where the website falters due to excessive load.
- New Ways for Testing Chatbots
The final recommendation among best practices for website testing would be the selection of an ideal instrument for testing chatbots. The majority of websites use chatbots today for personalizing the user experience and improving user interaction. The recommended best practice for testing chatbots is to evaluate their performance in different testing environments. Testers have to check whether the chatbots on a website coordinate proactively with users or not. In addition, testers must also focus on the automation of the chatbot testing process.
Conclusion
Therefore, you can clearly notice how to test web applications manually with the above best website testing practices that can render positive outcomes in terms of website quality, user experience, performance, and cost benefits. On the other hand, the growing innovation and complexities in website and web application development create new challenges for website testing every day. So, organizations with proactive and efficient website testing strategies have better chances of securing a competitive advantage in the existing market.
Well, Theses are some top web app testing practices that you need to apply while testing your web applications, but if you need any guidance and support in the testing process connect with the Top USA based web app testing service providers who have expertise in offering web accessibility testing, web security testing and web performance testing, etc.
