Technology is evolving rapidly, leading to the introduction of new software, products, and services. Thousands of new software applications are released every year to meet the overwhelming demand of users. However, not all apps are of high quality, and many get ejected because of lacklustre performance and user experience. Compatibility issues have become a primary cause of concern among the users. As per UserGuiding, 90% of users stop using an app because of poor performance.
Ideally, an application should provide a consistent experience across different devices, like mobile, laptop, or tablets, and all possible browsers and OS combinations possible. To accomplish this, it is essential to address all cross-browser compatibility issues. In this blog, we will shed light on the practices that can help you prevent browser compatibility concerns:
Top 8 Ways To Prevent Browser Compatibility Issues
The following pointers should help you ensure that your application does not have browser compatibility issues:
1. The Doctype Tag
DOCTYPE takes place due to missing basic lines in the coding software. Thus, it is essential to define the DOCTYPE keyword in the code to assist the web browser in operating efficiently. Many outdated versions of internet browsers often check DOCTYPE errors at the beginning of software.
There are two main modes in which a web browser functions:
- Strict Mode – In this mode, the browser functions with strict error checks to ensure that the code operates as per W3C specifications.
- Quirk Mode-It supports older versions of browsers with backward compatibility and does not perform strict checking on code.
In a scenario with a missing DOCTYPE tag, the browser usually functions in a quirks mode. However, if the browser will not be able to identify which mode to choose in case of an incompatibility issue with HTML5.Thus, as a result of the dysfunction of tags, the site will not load/crash. To avoid such errors, always remember to add DOCTYPE HTML at the start of the code.
2. Create A Responsive Design
The Internet browsers are equipped with a default layout style. However, developers have started experimenting with layouts using the ‘Reset’ feature in CSS. It leads to irresponsive layout design on smartphones or incompatibility with the latest browsers.
Here’s how you can prevent it:
- Utilize the HTML viewport metatag to ensure the content appears properly on the mobile screen.
- CSS Flexbox and Grid can help identify child elements based on the content and space availability.
- CSS multi-column layouts can help in maintaining the multi-column content.
3. HTML CSS Validation
Another common cross-browser compatibility issue is the validation of HTML and CSS codes. Different browsers follow unique procedures while reading, interpreting, and handling codes. Even a developer may commit an error while writing a code. The browsers with the latest versions can auto-correct such mistakes, but it might create rendering problems in outdated browsers.
The issue can be handled by validated tools like W3C HTML validator, Jigsaw CSS validator, CSS Lint, etc, available in the market.
4. Include Vendor Specific Prefixes
Sometimes, the developer creates a code that defines the unions in a manner relevant only to a few browsers. These browsers are denoted by unique CSS codes, such as Mozilla Firefox (-moz), Internet Explorer (-ms), Safari, and Chrome (-webkit). An error in a browser can also lead to errors in others. Hence, it is important to include the function without the prefix as well to avoid such errors.
5. Include Frameworks And Libraries Compatible Across Various Browsers
The websites are usually curated using external libraries and frameworks to provide security, scalability, and structure to Internet browsers. Using incompatible alternatives to these libraries can lead to issues such as frequent crashing of the website.
Thus, to avoid such issues, it is recommended to:
- Use reputed frameworks that offer cross-border compatibility, such as Angular Js and React Js.
- High-end CSS libraries like Bootstrap and Animate
- Cross-browser friendly scripting library such as JQuery
6. Perform Testing On Multiple Platforms
It is usually preferred to test an application on a virtually created platform due to ease of access. However, the process becomes more efficient on real devices as it helps resolve cross-browser compatibility issues. Cross-browser testing tools can help you run several tests side by side on various devices.
7. Check JavaScript Cross Browser Compatibility
JavaScript can be prone to various compatibility issues, such as features that are unsupported by older versions of internet browsers.
Here are some techniques to prevent cross-browser compatibility issues related to JavaScript:
- It is recommended to use the JavaScript library properly for compatibility with browsers and features of the apps.
- Use JavaScript Transpiling to convert ES6/ESMI code into code that can run on older versions of web browsers as well.
8. Perform Cross-Browser Test During Initial Stages
It is advised to initiate the process of checking once a single page of the application is ready for testing. It will save time and effort, and errors will be resolved during the beginning stage. As cross-browser compatibility testing requires testing in various environments, working on the problems early can reduce stress at later stages.
Conclusion
The methods mentioned above cover most ways to avoid cross-browser compatibility issues. However, the testing process can be strengthened by using a reliable codeless automation testing platform like TestGrid. It is an AI-based, efficient testing platform curated to make the testing process smooth and hassle-free.
With TestGrid, you can verify your application against hundreds of real devices and browsers and run hundreds of tests in parallel, thus making the testing process more efficient and faster. The platform ensures your applications offer a uniform user experience across all platforms and devices through its cross-browsing functionality. TestGrid maintains your reputation in the market by ensuring you deliver perfect, bug-free applications to end-users on time.
