How to cross-check a WordPress website – Cross-browser testing is a very important aspect when you change the look or design of a WordPress website. Cross-browser testing ensures the WordPress website works correctly across all browsers, screen sizes, operating systems, and mobile devices.
Below, I show you how easy it is to perform cross-browser WordPress testing using a few different tools available at your disposal.
What is cross-browser WordPress testing?
Simply put, when you perform cross-browser WordPress testing, you use the test process to make sure the WordPress website works correctly across many browsers, operating systems, screen sizes, and mobile devices.
Why should I check in multiple browsers?
Believe it or not, there are still a few browsers that have enough users to make cross-browser testing of WordPress websites important.
Google Chrome owns a huge market share of users, 65% of desktop market share, 57% of mobile devices.
Other browsers such as Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge or Opera are still widely used by hundreds of millions of people around the world.
Because so many browsers are still in use, cross-browser testing is an important part of the website design process. You want to provide a consistent experience to website users, regardless of which browser they choose to view the website.
Although all the most popular browsers usually behave exactly the same way when rendering websites, they all use different code. This means that the website element is handled differently over time with the particular browser.
This means the website looks different or behaves differently in the browser periodically. Since these are not common or major errors from WordPress, sometimes they will be missed for months. This is why it is considered to be the best browser for checking WordPress websites.
I know you're thinking I just don't have the kind of tools I need to perform a cross-browser WordPress test properly. Even if you borrow a device from a friend, there's a lot of work to switch back and forth trying to find any errors or problems that have occurred.
Don't worry about that, because there are definitely some cross-browser testing tools that help automate the whole process with just one click.
Before giving you a list of tools to use for cross-browser WordPress testing, let's take a quick look at how to find out which browser is most popular with website users. This will let you focus on the specific browser.
Find out which browsers your website visitors use
Since there are a few popular browsers still in use, this is a very tedious task, taking time to try and find out which website users want to use.
There is a tool to help you find this very fast. Google Analytics gives you data about which browsers, operating systems and devices are popular with website users. Once you have this information, it will make the rest of cross-browser testing much easier.
To access this information, simply log in to your Google Analytics account. Once you are at the account, click on Objects> Technology and then you will be shown detailed reports about the browser, screen size, operating system. Using this performs cross-browser WordPress testing.
Now let's take a look at the best WordPress cross-browser testing tool available to you.
See more: WordPress maintenance plugin
The best WordPress cross-browser testing tool
The following WordPress cross-browser testing tool makes it easy to check out a new or redesigned WordPress website at many browsers, operating systems, and devices.
Just a few clicks here and then use this tool you will check the WordPress website in different browsers.
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BrowserShots
BrowserShots is really an open source tool that you can test websites with several browsers on different operating systems. Like most tools, there are good and bad things about BrowserShots.
The best thing about BrowserShots is the fact that it's free and open source. So don't lose money if you want to use this cross-browser testing tool.
The main downside to this WordPress cross-browser testing system is that it does not support Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer. While we know these two browsers are used much less often than other browsers, both browsers exist in many cases, you will want to know if the website works correctly on them. It also does not include mobile device support.
To use BrowserShots correctly, you only need to enter the website URL and then select the browser you want to check. Browsers are listed in three columns Linux, Windows, Mac OS.
When you submit the URL link, you will need to wait a bit while the test runs. When BrowserShots finish running the test, they will provide you with a screenshot to view. Now click on the screenshots, then expand them to see what everything looks like.
Note: BrowserShots takes screenshots of the website. This means it is an indirect test only. You do not know whether your website works as intended in tests. Therefore, you will need the tool to run the test directly in the actual browser.
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CrossBrowserTesting
CrossBrowserTesting is a very powerful cross browser testing tool.
More often if you want to really get started in business and do some serious cross-browser testing at WordPress, this is the tool you'll want to use. This is a paid service, but it is well worth it. There is also a free trial, allocated to you 100 minutes to test and play with the service.
Once you've created your account, go to the “Live Test” tab, where you choose the operating system with the browser. The program will load the website URL in the actual browser that appears directly on your screen.
You will also get multiple screenshots at the same time, which will let you run a screenshot test online. CrossBrowserTesting tool will automatically fetch screenshots on mobile phones Mac, Windows, iPad, Nexus 6P running Chrome web browser, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge.
There are many options and functions, if you're serious about cross-checking WordPress, this tool is probably for you so give it a try.
Prices will start at about $ 29 per month annually.
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BrowserStack
BrowserStack is a paid WordPress cross-browser testing tool that is different from websites and mobile apps. Like CrossBrowserTesting, they offer a free trial, but they only allow you 30 minutes to play with the program before deciding whether it is right for you.
BrowserStack cross-browser testing tool comes with direct checking, screenshots. You choose the platform you want to test and then select the browser. BrowserStack will load the virtual simulator with the actual browser window. You only need to enter the URL you want to check to begin testing.
It works quite similar to the other two cross-checking tools here. The results you get are very accurate, you are satisfied. That being said, you will still have to take the test manually by opening each browser.
Prices will start at about $ 29 per month annually.
How to accurately analyze cross-browser testing
This is the bottom line. You have all the information on how to find the most popular browser for website visitors, you also have the best tool information to use.
Analyzing screenshots from the results of a cross-browser testing tool is not difficult. To be honest, if you are running a responsive WordPress theme with good quality code behind it, then most of the screenshots will look pretty similar. Basically, you feel good knowing the WordPress website is running correctly in all tested browsers.
There will be some cases where the website elements look a little different from browser to browser. If this difference is small, does not affect user experience, aesthetics or functionality, then you ignore it.
If there's a noticeable difference, or something stand out that really affects user experience, then it will need your attention.
With most of the cross-browser WordPress testing, you'll explore CSS issues with the interface. This problem is fixed by the Testing Tool at the browser you choose to find out which CSS rules need updating. When you find the rule that needs to be changed, deleted or added, then you add custom CSS to help fix the problem.
Conclude
If you are having trouble finding and fixing the problem you are having, then maybe it's time to hire a WordPress developer to solve it.
I hope this article helped you understand how easy it is to perform cross-browser testing on your website. You always want to make sure the website works properly on all browsers, with all users. You now have the information and tools to do this.
What tool did you use to run cross browser testing? Do you use other systems not mentioned?