Compatibility Testing is a type of software testing performed to determine that the application is capable of running on a browser, operating system, devices, network, or hardware.
Compatible testing is a non-functional type of testing.
Compatibility testing is performed on different browsers, devices, platforms, OS, and versions.
It can be executed manually or using Test Automation tools.
Compatible testing is mainly divided into two parts:
FORWARD COMPATIBILITY TESTING
The Forward Compatibility Testing is a type of testing which is performed on the newer version of the browser, OS, etc.
This is performed to ensure that the application is compatible with the newer versions.
BACKWARD COMPATIBILITY TESTING
The Backward Compatibility Testing is a type of testing which is performed with the older versions of the browser, OS, etc.
This is performed to ensure that the application is stable or compatible with the older version also.
Compatibility testing performed by the testers is used to improve the stability of the application across the different browsers, devices, OS, version, and Hardware.
COMPATIBILITY TESTING IS FURTHER DIVIDED INTO FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
IMPORTANCE OF COMPATIBILITY TESTING
As we have users of different platforms and browsers, It is necessary for an application to be compatible with the different platforms, browsers, etc.
It is necessary for the testers or QA engineers to perform the Compatibility Testing to increase the stability of the application.
This is performed to test the functionality of an application or Software is working properly in all the different platforms.
Performing Compatibility Testing reduces the leakage of Bugs.
Cross-Browser Testing: Performing Compatibility Testing across web browsers like Google, Safari, Firefox, etc.
Cross-Platform Testing: Performing Compatibility Testing across different platforms like macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, etc.
BROWSER POPULARITY
According to the statistics of April 2020, the below are the popularity of the browsers used:
Google Chrome - 74.70%
Firefox - 2.02%
Safari - 3.13%
Opera - 2.78%
UC Browser - 13.64%
Samsung Internet - 1.78%COMMON ISSUES FOUND DURING COMPATIBILITY TESTING
Misalignment of UI elements.
Overlapping UI elements.
CSS Issues.
Font mismatches.
Page scroll related issues.
Text wrapping issues.
TOOLS TO PERFORM COMPATIBILITY TESTING
IE TAB
Sauce Labs
Adobe Browser lab
Browser Stack
Ghost Lab
Browser Shots.
Secure Platforms
BrowserEmAll
Virtual Desktop
Cross Browser Testing
Spoon Browser Sandbox
Microsoft Super Preview
Simulator and Emulator
Testing Bot
Equafy
BrowserSeal
Lambda Test
Experitest
Functionize
Browserling
MultiBrowser