Current Date :March 28, 2024
CompatibilityTesting

Compatibility Testing: Why is it critical for your application’s success?

The technology domain has been growing drastically and in quick progressions too. Since the past decade, if we compare, there has been a significant rise in the number of browsers used for surfing the internet. Therefore, it is necessary to make the website compatible with all browsers. Since it is hard to evaluate each visitor’s personal selection of a browser, it is imperative to assure that a website functions well across all significant browsers, be it over the web or mobile devices. A situation like this makes it necessary to conduct a compatibility test before deploying any application.

What is Compatibility Testing?

Compatibility testing is a method of reviewing and comparing application functionality and styles over several browser platforms, mobile devices, and operating systems, to recognize any potential inconsistencies. The compatibility of a system, application, or website is developed with various factors and objects, such as hardware platforms, databases, web browsers, operating systems, users, mobile devices, networks, etc.

Compatibility testing is carried on the applications to assess the application’s compatibility with various environments. It can be executed manually or through automation tools.

This non-functional testing assures complete customer satisfaction, as it verifies whether the application performs as expected across all platforms.

Is Compatibility Testing Effective?

The answer is yes! Compatibility testing assures that there is no loss of business if a potential consumer visits you on any platform. A company might appear unprofessional if the customer does not find it compatible with the browser or device he is exercising. Another prime purpose for having a website that is compatible across all browsers and platforms is the requirement to stand out.

However, continuously running behind the requirement to stand out and look professional, makes it necessary for businesses to have a responsive website that serves in all browsers and devices. For this, web designers require to make the web design such that it operates well in all the browsers.

Software applications delivered should be compatible with all software, hardware, OS, platforms, etc., which can only be accomplished by opting for compatibility testing. Compatibility testing helps in discovering errors before the product is delivered to the end-user. It helps in verifying whether the product satisfies all the requirements set and is supported by both the developer and the end-user.

A product that is stable and high in quality helps in enhancing the reputation of the company and drives the company to accomplish continuous success. In fact, it not only enhances the reputation of the company but also promotes the marketing efforts and improves customer delight.

With Compatibility Testing, Ensure that the application runs efficiently on all the preferred browsers.

What are the benefits of Compatibility Testing?

Enhances Software Development Process:

Compatibility testing evaluates the problems in the software in the development process itself. Hence, it becomes simpler to verify the application’s stability, usability, and scalability across several platforms and deliver feedback. Also, the feedback received with this testing process helps to examine errors if any in the development stage itself. Thus, it helps in improving the software development process.

Identifies Errors before Production:

Compatibility testing is capable of timely identification of the errors in mobile and web apps even in difficult areas. Since errors are identified earlier before production, the testing method gives enough time for the developer teams to resolve them at the earliest. Moreover, this reduces time-consuming tasks such as fixing compatibility issues for various browsers, OS, or devices as errors are identified early.

Delivers & Meets Customer Expectations:

Compatibility testing assures to satisfy the fundamental expectation of users. The testing practices effectively complete system compatibility tests on different browsers, platforms, configurations, OS, hardware, etc. Thus, as compatibility tests are conducted on the app, it assures to deliver the best customer experience.

Types of Compatibility Testing

There are basically two types of compatibility testing identified as Software compatibility testing and Hardware compatibility testing. They are further classified into different categories detailed below.

Hardware compatibility testing

Testing is carried out to verify the compatibility of different hardware configurations with the software.

  • Operating systems: Compatibility testing is carried out to verify the software or applications’ compatibility with various operating systems, such as Linux, Mac, Windows, UNIX, etc.

Software compatibility testing

This method of compatibility testing includes the testing of software’s compatibility with different software. There are 5 different categories below this testing.

  • Mobile testing: Testing is done on different mobile devices such as Windows, iOS, and Android to verify whether the app developed is compatible or not.
  • Network testing: Testing is carried out to verify the software’s compatibility with and its performance in various networks such as Wifi, 5G, 4G, etc. The software is evaluated on the basis of variable parameters such as capacity, operating, and speed bandwidth.
  • Software Version testing: Testing is conducted out to review the software’s compatibility with different software versions.
  • Devices testing: The software or app is tested in various devices such as Bluetooth, USB, etc. to verify its compatibility.
  • Browser testing: The software or the application is tested in various browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Yahoo, Bing, etc.

How to Perform Compatibility Testing?

The compatibility testing method consists of four phases:

  • Designing test cases and configuration:

In this stage, the team plans test cases, and an analysis of the environments, software, hardware, and platforms should be taken up to recognize the behavior of the software. It is necessary to include a team with professionals having good knowledge of compatibility testing as they will be able to recognize even small variations in output.

  • Setting Up Environment:

In this step, the test engineers are needed to set up the environment, or the platform where the application is required to be tested and verified.

  • Test Execution & Result Analysis:

After setting up the environment, the teams perform the test cases and analyze the results. The end of the test cases is analyzed and the defects or the discrepancies/defects are noted to present to the stakeholders

  • Validating and Retesting:

Once the result is produced and analyzed; the report is presented to perform the next level of analysis. Here, the recognized defects or errors are validated and resolved. Also, the developed software will be re-tested to assure that the software meets the quality with no bugs and defects before moving it to actual production.

What are the defects encountered during Compatibility Testing?

  • Defects due to broken tables or frames
  • Issues after making variations or changes in the User Interface (UI) i.e. with respect to look and feel
  • Defects with scroll bar
  • Alignment issues can influence the software compatibility
  • Issues because of variation in color or style in CSS
  • Change or variation of the font size and font style

Also Read: 5 Cross Browser Testing Tools To Ease Browser Compatibility Issues

In brief, the multiple roles and advantages of compatibility testing make it an essential part of the software development process. By verifying compatibility with an end-user’s environment and ensuring that the application performs well in all browsers, OSs and networks can help to deliver ensured customer satisfaction.

TestUnitys’ comprehensive compatibility testing services are executed across different browsers, OSs, databases, hardware, servers, different configurations, etc. Our team ensures that the application runs efficiently on all the preferred browsers, leading to a pleasant customer experience and successful application usage.

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