Web applications are being built at an increasing rate these days. As each line of code is written, the probability of bugs increases. In general, the costs of fixing bugs grow exponentially if they are not found on time. 

According to IBM’s Systems Sciences Institute, “the cost to correct an error discovered after product release was 4 to 5 times higher than one discovered during design and up to 100 times higher than one detected during maintenance.” 

According to a report conducted by the University of Cambridge, software glitches cost the global economy $312 billion per year.

These figures emphasise how important it is to find bugs as soon as possible and thoroughly test an application before it is published. Web application monitoring comes into play in this situation. Multiple steps are typically used in web application testing to ensure that an application is fully functional and runs smoothly and safely. It’s a vital part of web development because it guarantees that an app functions correctly before it’s released.

We put together a 6-step plan to help you find out what kind of tests you can run to test your app. Here are as follows:

Step 1: Functional Testing

The first step in web testing is to make sure that all the functions of a system are tested and working properly. 

Functional testing is a form of black-box testing that is focused on the requirements of the software product under test. It is a quality assurance (QA) process. Functions are tested by supplying them input and examining the output, and internal program design is really considered (unlike white box testing). The system is reviewed against functional requirements and specifications in the source code during functional testing.

Functional research typically involves the following:

• The method of deciding what functions the software is expected to perform
• Data entry and output
• The execution of the test case
• A review of the real outcomes

Real system usage is simulated during functional testing. The aim is to get as close to real system use as possible and to establish test conditions that are important to user requirements.

Step 2: Usability testing

Usability testing goes beyond application testing and covers both practical and overall user experience testing. User acceptance testing should not be confused with usability testing. Despite the fact that both are necessary for a web application’s success. They each have a distinct emphasis and are carried out at various stages during the software development life cycle.

 

It can be done either internally or by recruiting external testers who are representative of the target audience. You can use services like Apple’s TestFlight for apps built for the app store to find external testers.

The following are the measures involved in usability testing:

• Develop a testing plan that guarantees the application’s entire functionality is tested. Navigation and content are examples of these.
• Recruit test participants from both within and outside the organisation.
• Run the test in front of a panel of experts.
• Analyze the data and make adjustments to your application as appropriate.

Step 3: Interface Testing

The aim of interface testing is to ensure that all communications between the web server and application server interfaces run smoothly. This involves inspecting communication procedures and ensuring that error messages are properly displayed. Other items to check are whether user and server interruptions are treated correctly.

Step 4: Compatibility Testing

A crucial step in web application testing is ensuring that the application is compatible with all browsers and operating systems. The following are the various components of compatibility testing:

4.1 Browser Compatibility

Check to see if your application functions correctly in all browsers; Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, IE, Opera. This involves making sure that JavaScript, AJAX, WebSockets, tab updates, and authentication requests are all running properly.

Apart from ensuring that your application works in all browsers (yes, even Internet Explorer! ), you can also test it in various browser versions to see if any changes have an effect on its functionality.

4.2 Operating System Compatibility

 

Your web application can encounter issues on some operating systems, just as it does with different browsers. Make sure it works on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Unix.

4.3 Mobile Compatibility

Mobile compatibility for web applications is an expected guarantee these days. Web testing is crucial for ensuring that the software runs on various smart devices, and platforms and performs just as well on Android as it does on iOS.

Step 5: Performance Testing

After ensuring that your application’s functionality is functioning correctly and responsively across all browsers and computers, it’s time to see how it handles heavy traffic. This involves evaluating the app at various internet speeds as well as how it performs under regular and peak loads (load testing). To assess the application’s breaking point, it is subjected to increasing levels of stress until it stops running (stress testing).

Testing for perseverance is an important step in determining how the application responds to stress before your users/clients. Make sure you monitor the application’s functionality in a number of environments and hardware configurations, and that it recovers from errors as soon as possible. 

Step 6. Security Testing

The final stage of web application testing ensures that your app is safe from unauthorised access and harmful behaviour caused by viruses or other harmful programs. 

The following events are included in web application security testing:

• Check if protected pages can be accessed without permission
• Check that all open sessions are closed after a period of inactivity by the user
• Examine the application’s SSL certificate
• Make sure that no one can download restricted files without your permission.

All in all, a security testing framework is useful at this point because it helps you coordinate and structure your testing efforts. Tasks in the following fields should be included on such a checklist:

• Safe Transmission 
• Granting permission
• Session Management
• Cryptography 
• Validation of Data
• Service Disruption
• Functionality Tests That Are Specific
• Handling Errors

Sum Up

When a website is launched, something can go wrong: broken links, complicated navigation, web protection, and a slew of other dangers. To reduce these risks and maintain web quality, a thorough testing process is essential.If you thoroughly follow the above steps before releasing your application, you should be able to find any bugs and errors and fix them before it’s too late. 

Bonus tip: Use TestDel for web application testing.

According to our experience, there is always space for improvement in tech, whether it’s a basic website or a complex cloud solution. We will ensure that your web application is usable, open, scalable, compliant, and, of course, safe, with a team of ISTQB accredited engineers, Web application testing is one of TestDel core services. With over 5 years of experience on web application projects, we have worked out a specially developed package of services.