Are you looking to improve your ability to test site on mobile? This is a very important parameter; considering the huge compatibility standards for modern applications, testing the site on mobile is important. Moreover, mobile devices dominate over half of the total Internet users, making them a very important segment for capturing huge audience groups.
Using modern browser developer tools, the developers can integrate accessible and powerful solutions for the initial compatibility verification. This inclusion also allows the testers and quality assurance professionals to recreate different devices, debug issues, and optimize the performance without the inclusion of physical devices.
This article will dive deep into some of the most important aspects of using browser developer tools for mobile site testing. During our discussion, we will also review some of the most important features, benefits, and practical steps for performing effective initial compatibility checks.
Understanding the Importance of Mobile Compatibility
Before we proceed with the integrated details of initial mobile compatibility testing, we must develop a basic idea of this process. So, checking how well a website functions across different mobile devices and browsers is a practice.
An ideal mobile-compatible site will provide a seamless user experience to ensure that the content is accessible, functional, and visually appealing regardless of the device used by the end users. The following factors will have a major influence in determining the mobile compatibility parameters of a web application:
- It is very important to have a responsive design, which means that the layout of the mobile application must adapt to various screen sizes and orientations.
- The mobile application must perform well, displaying fast loading times and smooth interactions irrespective of the user’s actions.
- The application must be usable and have intuitive navigation and interaction elements.
- Finally, the testers need to determine the accessibility of the application to ensure that all the content on the web is usable by people with disabilities.
Using Browser Developer Tools
All modern web apps have powerful developer tools, also known as the DevTools. These tools are responsible for simplifying the mobile site testing processes. Moreover, using these tools, the testers will have a massive range of features that will allow them to simulate different devices, inspect elements, debug issues, and also analyze the overall performance of the app:
Some popular browser developer tools include Safari Web Inspector, Google Chrome DevTools, Microsoft Edge DevTools, and many others.
Major Features of Browser Tools for Mobile Site Testing
To further help the modern mobile testers with the initial compatibility testing process, we have mentioned some of the major features of browser DevTools that can help in this regard:
Device Mode Emulation
Using device mode emulation, the developers can massively improve the efficiency and accuracy of the mobile site test instances. This allows the testers to simulate various mobile devices directly within the browser window. Moreover, using this feature, the testers can enable inspection of how a site appears and behaves on different resolutions and screen sizes.
By following the given steps, the application testers can perform device mode emulation while using Chrome DevTools:
- The first step is to press F12 or Ctrl+ Shift+I or Cmd+Opt+I based on the operating system.
- After this, the testers have to click the device button that will be present in the top left corner to begin the device configuration process.
- The next step involves the testers choosing from a list of pre-configured devices or adding a custom device as per the requirements of the application that is currently being tested.
- In the final step you must adjust the settings by modifying the viewport size of your resolution and user agent strings. The testers can simply execute the device instances as per their requirements.
In this regard, we warn modern testers that although simulation environments can replicate real devices, they cannot analyze the behavior of apps based on the physical parameters of a device. So, you cannot understand how an app’s performance is affected by low battery, broken display, or any other parameters.
To combat this issue, the testers can use cloud-based platforms like LambdaTest that integrate with different configurations of real devices, browsers, and operating systems to run the test instances. LambdaTest – AI-powered test execution platform that lets you run manual and automation tests at scale on a remote test lab with over 3000+ real devices, browsers, and OS combinations. With this platform you can automate the mobile website testing processes using Appium.
Inspecting and Debugging Elements
It is a very important process for the mobile side testers to inspect and debug elements that will be present on the user interface of the mobile application. The testers can identify and fix issues related to various crucial parameters like layout, styling, and functionality by performing this process.
By following the steps given below, modern testers can perform element inspection using Chrome DevTools:
- The process begins by selecting the elements tab that will be present in the main navigation bar of Chrome DevTools.
- After this, the testers must hover over or right-click the element on the page and select the ‘Inspect’ option. The testers will highlight these elements by selecting this option and viewing their CSS and HTML tags.
- Next, the testers have to edit the CSS properties directly in the style pane and see the changes implemented in real-time.
- The final step is to use the console tab to execute JavaScript code, view error messages, and log outputs. This will help the testers efficiently debug the issues and ensure that they are fixed before rolling out to the production phase.
Network Throttling
The availability of a stable network has a very important role in impacting the mobile user experience. Using the browser DevTools, testers can simulate various network speeds to test the site’s performance under these conditions. During this process, the testers must also remember the influence of network latency on the page element loading times.
By implementing the following steps, the application testers can execute network throttling testing in Chrome DevTools:
- The first step is to go to the network tab in DevTools and open the primary menu under this.
- After this, the testers must choose a preset that includes slow 3G or fast 3G, which will be available in the drop-down menu. Certain browsers, such as DevTools, also allow testers to integrate their custom network settings per the requirements.
- The final step in this process is to monitor the website’s performance and observe how the site loads and performs under the selected network conditions.
Performance Analysis
As a site tester, you must remember that not all users can access high-quality devices or the latest browser versions. So, it is also important to perform performance analysis to identify bottlenecks and optimize the overall site speed and responsiveness.
Follow the steps given below to implement performance analysis while using Chrome DevTools:
- You will begin this process by clicking on the performance tab that will be present in the main navigation bar of Chrome DevTools.
- After this, you must click the record button and interact with the website to capture the performance data. Remember that the entire process will happen in real time, so the testers can monitor these steps.
- Finally, you can view the detailed metrics and flame charts, which will help you to understand the performance impact of different operations. Based on these reports, you can implement the debugging steps to ensure a consistent user experience on all configurations.
Accessibility Testing
A recently concluded survey mentions that more than 25% of the total users all around the globe have some form of disability. So, by implementing accessibility testing, app-developing companies avoid legal complications and implement inclusive designs on their websites.
This process is also crucial for improving the search rankings as various search engines prefer accessible websites.
To implement accessibility testing while using Chrome DevTools, the testers simply have to follow the given steps in chronological order:
- The first step is to open the Lighthouse panel by navigating to the Lighthouse tab that will be present in the Chrome DevTool’s main navigation option.
- After this, the application developers have to run an audit by selecting the accessibility check box and initiating the process.
- Final step is to review the results and examine the accessibility report. This data will allow the testers to implement the recommended improvements to ensure that all the web components are usable by people with disabilities.
Overview of The Steps for Streamlining Mobile Site Testing
The following steps mention the brief processes that the testers have to implement for executing streamlined mobile site testing:
- The first step is to perform the initial setup, which requires customizing the settings, including themes, shortcuts, and experiments for an optimized workflow.
- Next, the testers have to choose their devices to start the simulation. It is important to ensure the layout adapts correctly based on different viewpoints.
- After this, the testers must examine the HTML and CSS elements to identify any issues. It is also important to navigate to the console to catch and fix errors.
- The next step involves implementing performance testing and accessibility checks. The testers can perform these processes by following the steps mentioned in the previous segments.
- The final step is implementing continuous monitoring so testers can frequently check the website’s performance after any updates or crucial changes.
The Final Verdict
To summarize, browser developer tools provide an efficient and comprehensive way of performing initial compatibility verification for modern mobile websites. Using all the features we mentioned in this article, the developers can ensure that their website offers an inclusive and seamless experience across multiple mobile devices.
Moreover, by incorporating these tools into the main development workflow, the testers can streamline the overall testing process and improve the process of identifying and resolving issues. All these steps will ultimately lead to a more robust and user-friendly mobile experience.
Finally, whether you are a seasoned developer or starting to test a site on mobile, utilizing browser developer tools for these processes is an important practice for achieving optimal site compatibility and elaborate performance.
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