Cross Browser Testing
October 08, 2009
A number of our clients have asked us a variety of cross browser support questions over the years, so we decided that it would be helpful to write a post that covers the subject.
When designing a web based sales tool, it is important to develop it to be viewable in a number of browsers across multiple operating systems. This grants maximum exposure for your sales based website, which in turn means that your site gains a potential profitability level. This is not as easy as would be expected, mostly due to the staggering number of web browsers and operating systems in circulation.
Luckily, the majority of people online today use a very limited number of browsers and operating systems - most notably Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Opera (for browsers) and Windows, OSX, and Linux (for operating systems). I am sure that I will get a lot of feedback about this list, so remember that this is a short list and isn't meant to be authoritative or complete.
How does a person test a website in a variety of browsers and operating systems without having to purchase and manage a storehouse full of computer systems dedicated to the task?
Enter www.crossbrowsertesting.com.
This web service is a wonderful tool for anyone who needs to test a website in a variety of browsers. At a basic level, CBT gives you the ability to connect to a live computer running an operating system and browser of your choice, on demand. You can change the OS and/or browser at any time, testing your site in a multitude of configurations. With a few clicks of your mouse, you can now test your website across a large number of these configurations.
For developers, this saves a lot of time and money while allowing for rapid testing of prototypes and working development sites across platforms. For end users and business owners, this is a great way to see how your website looks to your visitors.
