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Given the variety of device categories already accessible, a study of the modern device market suggests that it may be more congested than it is now. Consumers today can access the Internet via PCs, cellphones, tablets, and even Internet of Things devices to refresh their memory. A remote test lab is essential for effective mobile app testing in such a market.
This is so that the testers can access a variety of device configurations for thorough testing using remote test labs, which streamlines the overall cross-platform development process. Due to its widespread use, the Safari browser is necessary for cross-platform testing.
This article will outline the significance of testing for compatibility with Safari, the difficulties encountered during the process, and how contemporary testers can leverage remote test labs to maximize the effectiveness of the cross-platform compatibility testing procedure.
Why Safari Testing Is Important
Due to its large market share, Safari testing is essential to the current application development and testing life cycle. On all iOS and Mac OS devices, Safari is the default browser. Thus, web testers must confirm that the application runs without a hitch on Safari.
This strategy allows app development businesses to offer clients a positive user experience. Reaching this degree of compatibility requires testing on various Apple devices and operating system versions, as well as Safari versions. Thus, app development businesses must establish and manage a thorough testing lab to meet these requirements.
Challenges in Safari Testing
The application testers must be aware of every obstacle to guarantee a seamless Safari testing procedure. To make this information more accessible for novice testers to understand, we have included a list of some of the most significant challenges:
Device Fragmentation
The current Apple ecosystem includes several devices, which vary in screen sizes, resolutions, and performance capacities. Manually verifying an app’s functionality on all these devices might take time and effort for app testers.
OS Version Compatibility
Mac OS and iOS versions may behave differently using the Safari browser. To guarantee consistent performance, the testers must run the test cases on various operating system versions. In the worst situation, this procedure may lead to app crashes or inconsistent performance if the app testers neglect to implement it.
Restricted Access
Apple has a well-known reputation for limiting access to certain backend operations. As a result, not every tester will be able to run the test cases on every Apple device and operating system combination. This limitation makes it very simple for the testers to miss compatibility issues that could exist in the app architecture.
Utilizing Remote Test Lab
The app testers can find various solutions to the problems associated with Safari testing while utilizing remote test labs. These laboratories offer virtual access to various Apple products and OS combinations. Let’s take a quick look at how cross-platform compatibility remote testing labs aid testing optimization:
Availability of Various Devices
App developers can use various Apple devices while utilizing remote test labs. Among the most notable brands on this list are iMacs, MacBooks, iPads, and iPhones. This access guarantees comprehensive testing across various screen sizes, resolutions, and system configurations.
Comprehensive OS Coverage
Numerous iOS and Mac OS versions are available in remote testing labs. These additions allow testers to test their apps across different Safari versions. The process’s ultimate objective is to find compatibility problems unique to various combinations of operating systems.
Additionally, the app testers get access to obsolete operating system versions through remote test laboratories. It is an important consideration because, according to multiple market studies, over 75% of end users still need to update their operating systems.
Cost Effectiveness
It can be costly to spend thousands of dollars on actual testing equipment. Furthermore, this investment won’t cover every configuration currently on the market. Thus, app testers can access a low-cost substitute that provides a wide range of devices through remote testing facilities.
It also removes the requirement for maintaining or owning a physical lab for testing devices. Additionally, developers can be relieved of the burden and aggravation of manually upgrading every device and browser version that will be present in a physical device testing lab.
Scalability and Efficiency
The app testers can efficiently perform comprehensive testing using remote device testing laboratories. They can also do away with the obligation to buy, assemble, and maintain physical equipment by testing specifications. To support testing for projects of any size, these test labs can expand their resources per the test needs.
Real-World Testing Conditions
In contrast to emulators or simulators, remote testing labs can replicate real-world usage situations. Under these circumstances, the testers can evaluate their applications in settings comparable to what their intended end users would experience. By employing this method, the testers can recognize and address problems that might occur when the app is used.
Additionally, by using remote device testing labs, app developers may comprehend how their app’s behavior varies in response to different physical circumstances, such as a low battery, a malfunctioning display, or many types of user interface failures.
Best Practices for Safari Testing with Remote Test Labs
The following are some best practices to increase the effectiveness of Safari testing using remote testing labs:
Testing on Different Types of Devices
According to the testers, the program must function as planned across various Apple devices, including the most well-liked ones on the market. Therefore, the tester must ensure these devices are integrated when setting up the remote test lab.
Understanding the target audience will enable the testers to configure every device in the remote test labs to meet their needs.
Including Various OS Versions
Testing the app across Mac OS and iOS versions is crucial to finding compatibility issues unique to different versions of Safari. This strategy will guarantee a uniform user experience across various operating systems.
Additionally, as we previously stated, the app development company has to give extra consideration to ensuring compatibility with out-of-date Mac OS and iOS versions.
Conducting Testing for Responsive Design
Every device has different screen sizes, display resolutions, and orientations, so app testers must incorporate responsive design into the application development and testing process.
Ensuring the app’s responsiveness across all these differences requires the testers to do comprehensive, responsive design testing. With this approach, they may provide the app can adjust to the intended audience’s usage patterns.
In addition to evaluating responsive design, testers should ensure that every user interface element in the app is positioned correctly.
Evaluating Speed and Performance
The testers must assess their application’s performance across various devices and operating system versions to guarantee comprehensive and reliable operation. This will enable them to deliver a seamless browsing experience even with slower network connections or outdated technology.
According to a recent survey, many end users utilize devices that are at least two years old. Thus, app testers can use this as a baseline to set their testing expectations and criteria.
App testers need to confirm the app’s accessibility, functionality, and speed. The testers must verify in this stage that the application can be used by a wide range of users, including those with particular disabilities.
Rigorous requirements in certain countries prohibit app developers if they fail to meet accessibility criteria.
When feasible, Use Automated Testing.
Modern apps have thousands of components, so extensive testing is necessary. Manually running each of these test cases will become nearly impossible. Furthermore, adding more human contacts can improve several things. As an alternative, app developers might incorporate automated testing into the app’s development.
Using this advanced testing technique, it is feasible to automatically start and run the test instances depending on preset testing parameters. When automation testing is used correctly, developers can complete the entire testing cycle in a few days.
Developers can use remote test labs to start and finish automated cross device testing with various cloud platforms, such as 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.
App testers can leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) when combined with LambdaTest to enhance the effectiveness of the test orchestration and execution process.
This platform’s additional capabilities include parallel testing, real-time test logging, and thorough test results, including images and videos.
Updating Testing Environments Regularly
The market for current devices is constantly changing and adding new products. App testers must, therefore, upgrade the most recent versions of Safari and device configurations in their test environments. This method will better enable them to depict the present user landscape of the market.
To guarantee that the test code is valid and functioning, the testers should also incorporate all recent upgrades to the app infrastructure. Additionally, by regularly upgrading the test environments, app developers can ensure they can distribute updates to users without interruption and reuse significant portions of the current test data.
Conclusion
In conclusion, given Safari’s substantial market share on iOS and Mac OS devices, maintaining cross-platform compatibility is essential in today’s competitive digital landscape. Thorough testing of Safari is necessary to ensure a flawless user experience. Remote test laboratories provide a practical alternative despite obstacles like device fragmentation, OS version compatibility, and restricted access that might make this procedure more difficult.
Remote test facilities access various Apple products and operating systems, guaranteeing comprehensive testing in multiple setups. This method provides significant cost savings, scalability, and the capacity to replicate real-world settings while expanding the breadth of testing. Developers can significantly increase the dependability and compatibility of apps by following best practices, which include testing on various hardware and operating systems, analyzing speed and performance, testing responsively, and utilizing automated testing.
With a wide range of device and operating system combinations, sophisticated features like parallel testing, and AI and machine learning technologies to improve test orchestration and execution, platforms like LambdaTest streamline the process. Updating testing environments regularly guarantees that the testing procedure stays applicable and efficient despite changing market conditions.
Ad development firms may provide high-quality applications with consistent and good user experiences across all platforms by strategically adopting remote test laboratories for Safari testing. Businesses may better fulfill the needs of a varied and dynamic user base and maintain their place in the competitive app market by investing in comprehensive and efficient testing procedures.