We will get into cross-browser testing in this article. It is a type of testing that determines whether a program performs as intended on various browsers, operating systems, and gadgets. Cross-browser testing can be done both automatically and manually. Using tools like Selenium, the automation test scripts can be produced or recorded.
What Is Cross Browser Testing?
The Application Under Test (AUT) is tested across several browsers, operating systems, and devices to assure compatibility. Comparing the anticipated behaviour of an application across various instances is the goal. The identical test script occasionally passes on one or more instances but fails on another.
Maybe the application or our test script is to blame for the failure. Have you ever used Internet Explorer to open a webpage and it failed? then used Chrome to open the same website without incident. These problems are discovered during cross-browser testing since each browser renders an AUT’s data in a unique way.
Cross Browsing in Selenium is an important concept to learn if you are into Automation testing. Enrolling at a good Selenium course will provide you the opportunity to learn more about Cross Browsing in Selenium.
Benefits of Cross Browser Testing
Setting a baseline is the first step in implementing cross-browser testing. An average Test Script serves as a baseline. The goal is to assess how well our AUT works with a single browser, single operating system, and single device. Then, by using more configurations of browsers, operating systems, and devices, we can expand upon the baseline
There are two main benefits of Cross Browser Testing:
- Time
- Test Coverage
- Time
The writing and running of each individual Test Script for distinct circumstances take time. As a result, our test scripts are written to run different data combinations. For the initial iteration, the same Test Script can run on Chrome and Windows, then on Firefox and Mac, and finally on more situations for later iterations.
Because we only needed to build one Test Script rather than several for each case, we were able to save time.
- Test Coverage
Using a technique called test coverage, we can figure out what and how much of our test scripts are covered. We determine the features and confirm that sufficient Test Scripts are available for those features. The benefits of test coverage include the ability to assess the effectiveness of our test cycles.
Depending on the needs, our test scripts cover different topics.
The test scripts cover a variety of topics, depending on the browsers and their various browser versions.
Test coverage serves as a useful barometer for our testing procedure. However, achieving 100% coverage is challenging, and it’s conceivable that a feature performs oddly depending on the version.
How To Achieve Cross Browser Testing In Selenium
Using Selenium’s Grid or test data, you can perform cross-browser testing. Selenium Grid streamlines the procedure while accepting test data as input. The test scripts are run concurrently on many remote workstations using Selenium Grid. A client sends the instructions to distant browser instances.
Test data can be kept in a database, Excel file, CSV file, properties file, or XML file. For Data Driven Testing or Cross Browser Testing, you can also mix TestNG with the test data. The DataProvider Annotation, dataProvider Attribute, or dataProviderClass Attribute enables the test script to receive an infinite number of values for data-driven testing.
When it comes to cross-browser testing, we can submit alternative browser names using the parameter tag and the Parameters Annotation.
The parameter tag is found at the test level of the XML file. The tag can be added at the test level, the suite level, or both levels. A name and value are enclosed in double quotes in the parameter tag. Its value, “Chrome,” is supplied to the if or else if statements while its name, “BrowserType,” is passed to the Test Script via the @Parameters Annotation.
Chrome, Edge, or Firefox are configured via the if and if else statements. Following execution from the XML file, the same Test Script send commands to every browser.
Conclusion
One Test Script can be used with several browsers simultaneously by using cross-browser testing. Time and test coverage are a couple of the advantages. We save time by avoiding writing numerous Test Scripts for each browser. Another advantage is that we can test more than just the browser version for a given browser, which increases test coverage. Cross Browsing in Selenium is an important concept to understand. You can learn more about it by checking out the Selenium online training.
