It’s not often that new desktop applications are released, especially as more companies go to the web or move to the web. However, many businesses continue to rely on a complex mix of desktop apps, web applications, and legacy systems to carry out mission-critical operations. 

As a result, cross-platform or cross-application automated testing is a critical aspect in organizations’ ability to deliver faster and with greater test coverage. 

1. What is end-to-end testing? 

End-to-end testing can be defined as “testing the application from one point to the other.” End-to-end testing is frequently referred to as “testing done to test the application from beginning to end.”   

For example, the end-user flow of one eCommerce application might look like this: 

• Add items to your shopping cart. 
• Proceed to the cart items by tapping the cart button. 
• Proceed to the payment stage. 
• Cancel the transaction. 
• Return.

A different flow would look like this: 

•  Add products to your shopping cart. 
• Proceed to the cart items by tapping the cart button. 
• Proceed to the payment section. 
• Payment was made successfully. 

 These two scenarios demonstrate two of the application’s numerous possible outcomes of using the application. End-to-end testing refers to all of these possibilities that have been extensively tested. It is not a simple or “defined” procedure. In many cases, it closely approaches what you might see the end-user doing.  

This form of testing not only helped us test the end-to-end functionality, but it also helped us detect several bugs that would have been difficult to find otherwise. What effect, for example, does blocking the network connection have when the user is making a payment? What if you started booking the same hotel on the same day for the second time? These are some of the scenarios and capabilities that can only be identified through end-to-end testing. 

2. Cross-Platform Testing 

Cross-platform testing refers to the ability to test systems and applications that run across a variety of platforms and technologies.  

If a company performs automated cross-platform testing, it means they’re automating tests across a variety of platforms, including virtual, cloud, and legacy systems. The issue is that testing across platforms and technologies consumes a lot of resources, is difficult to maintain, and is tough to expand. 

 2.1 When should end-to-end cross-platform testing be automated? 

The following situations may help you understand why cross-platform end-to-end testing requires automation: 

 2.2 When you’ve got a cross-platform application, you’ve got a lot of options. 

Have you ever noticed how your WhatsApp conversations and media are recovered locally when you use a new or different device to log in? This is a cross-platform scenario that is critical for people who want to serve their users across many platforms. When account creation is necessary, this is usually the case.  

In today’s world, device synchronization is a must-have feature. For example, a user receives an Amazon link from a buddy via WhatsApp, adds it to his phone’s card, and then checks it from his desktop a few hours later. When a website is ready to launch, end-to-end testing adds a few additional test cases. 

TestDel allows you to automate several platforms in one end-to-end test case. 

 2.3 When the number of target devices is excessive 

The target devices are the ones on which you want to distribute your app. You won’t be able to release an app (native or web) for all of the devices available in 2022. It would simply entail a great deal of functionality compromise. As a result, we make a basic list of target devices and other specifications to adhere to. 

For example,  If you’re planning to deploy a web application, you’ll need to specify which operating systems (Android and iOS) you’ll support. All mobile browsers are supported, with their minimum versions and sizes. A similar approach must subsequently be followed on the desktop. This will result in a huge list of target devices, which will be very convenient with automation in place. 

 2.4 When you have a tight deadline 

From the time the application is pushed for testing until it is released, automation saves a lot of time. When we automate testing, we can complete cases more quickly and generate results more swiftly. Regression tests are one of the topics we covered earlier. When we need to parallelize things, that’s another significant area. We can combine many mutually incompatible processes using advanced threading technologies and using a computer’s core capability. Both of these things help you wrap things up quickly and save time. 

2.5  When there are an excessive number of repeating tests 

The following is a simple and generic definition of repeating test cases:  

• Cases that must be repeated on multiple devices. 
• Cases that must be repeated for each new version. 
• The second category, on the other hand, includes the first. Repetitive cases (also known as regression test cases) guarantee that we release a bug-free application with each new release version and on each new platform.

When dealing with repetitive cases, automation is frequently required. These are added to the CI pipeline and run automatically, improving efficiency, due to automation.  

3. Challenges of Cross-Platform Testing 

3.1 Detecting Layout Problems During Automation 

Automation scripts don’t know whether your data is introduced appropriately. However, it has the data on the website, it will push ahead. In any event, during manual testing, there are situations of bogus up-sides. The application may look wonderful in your screen resolution; however, the layout may experience different resolutions which you can’t get. 

The arrangement is to use Automated visual approval with cross-browser testing tools like Applitools/Sikuli. It can precisely recognize the layout changes which are even imperceptible to people. 

3.2 Color Rendering 

Sometimes browsers dependent on the platform may render colors contrastingly or minutely. So with natural eyes, you will not remember it. However, sometimes that may wind up disastrously especially with retail websites. 

An end-user may be misinformed by the look and feel. You can do careful bitmap approval for every page across browsers which will precisely discover what’s turning out badly. The UX designs then will sort out an approach to fix it utilizing a cross-browser testing platform. 

3.3 The Process of Testing takes Time 

Every one of the endeavors that have been made to automate cross-browser testing isn’t yet sufficient. There are arrangements like Browser Stage and Selenium to automate a couple of parts of the applications we construct. However, no one can tell when a minor, unimportant issue turns into a threat for the client. 

We say this with experience. Firefox has once rendered a website that our team constructed useless when another redid version came out. It was possibly discovered when we saw a high bounce rate from a segment of users. 

3.4 Trying out different browser versions on various platforms 

This is a major aggravation when you are focusing on a gigantic arrangement of individuals chipping away at a variety of browsers. Preferably, the developers should remember this and develop the application as ideal as could be expected. Yet, it is practically conceivable to test every unique browser. 

Provided you have such a business, you need to do it. Then, at that point, You can use the force of cloud-like BrowserStack where you get each unique sort of browser in a flick of a second. 

3.5 Unicode Multiple Languages 

If you happen to introduce multiple languages on your website you need to ensure every one of the significant browsers renders it effectively. Again doing this manual is a lumbering position and it is inclined to many human errors. So use visual approval alongside the force of cloud-based testing of browsers. 

3.6 Visual bug testing across all screen resolutions 

Testing your site for visual errors manually can hoard up a ton of time. It’s not new information, and our brain goes directly to test automation. However, note that distinguishing broken layouts for sites and web apps utilising test automation can be somewhat precarious. 

For this situation, there is a ton to manage, particularly when we start to count the distinctive test environments. Simply, we add mobile devices with their arrangement of browsers, the rundown could never be finished. A cross-browser testing app or a tool ought to guarantee consistent UI testing in all screen resolutions. 

 For more information regarding end-to-end testing, please Contact US. 

TestDel is a leading quality assurance company with over 5 years of experience in providing all testing-related services to ensure the successful delivery of programmes. Our principal focus is to provide end-to-end quality assurance services around the world to Software Development firms and end clients. Our test teams work with organizations across all industries to meet all testing challenges effectively. 

We are experts in manual and automated testing for web, desktop, mobile, cloud, and cross-platform software solutions. We’re here to make sure platforms are tested thoroughly on time and within budget to improve how the software works for the people who use it. You can trust our team of experienced and highly qualified professionals from reputed technology and management institutions who are domain experts from various industries including IT, Telecom Retail, Aviation, Utility, and Banking. Please Contact Us for more information.