One of the persisting issues in web development as a field and as a practice is the issues related to cross-browser compatibility. As MSE’s market share and the shift to the Chromium engine are undeniable, testing on Microsoft Edge online has become more crucial. In this article, you will learn about remote browsers for complete test coverage for Microsoft Edge and the additional benefits of this approach for improving quality assurance and optimizing Internet browsers based on comparing different Edge versions and setups.
The Importance of Microsoft Edge Testing
Microsoft Edge, initially rolled out in 2015 as a new browser to replace Internet Explorer, has undergone several transformations. The most significant change came in 2020, as Microsoft revamped Edge using the Chromium directories—the same ones Google Chrome uses. This has made Edge a more compatible operating system and performs well, hence making more users prefer it.
By 2024, Microsoft Edge will have captured a significant portion of the browser market, meaning web applications must be rigorously tested to ensure compatibility with this platform. Lack of Edge testing can cause a dissatisfactory experience and reduced effectiveness for many users, limiting their engagement, conversions, and, as a result, customer satisfaction.
Challenges in Traditional Edge Testing
While the importance of Edge testing is straightforward, traditional testing methods often fall short of providing comprehensive coverage. Some common challenges include:
- Version Fragmentation: Multiple versions of Edge are in active use, each with its quirks and rendering differences.
- Operating System Dependencies: Edge’s behavior can vary across different Windows versions and other supported operating systems.
- Hardware Limitations: Testing on various device types and screen resolutions can be resource-intensive and impractical with physical machines.
- Maintenance Overhead: Keeping multiple test environments up-to-date with the latest Edge versions and security patches can be time-consuming.
- Scalability Issues: Ramping up testing efforts during peak development periods can be challenging with limited physical infrastructure.
Remote browser testing offers a solution to these challenges, providing a more flexible, scalable, and comprehensive approach to Edge testing.
Understanding Remote Browser Testing
Cloud-based browser testing also referred to as remote browser testing solution, enables developers and QA teams to gain access to browser sessions running overpaid or free virtual servers. This approach offers several advantages over traditional, local testing methods:
- Access to multiple browser versions: Test your web applications across various Edge versions without the need to maintain multiple local installations.
- Cross-platform testing: Easily switch between different operating systems to ensure compatibility across platforms.
- Device emulation: Design responsiveness and layout compatibility are tested using different screen sizes and resolutions.
- Parallel testing: It is possible to run several test sessions at once, greatly minimizing the time needed to pass all the necessary tests.
- Collaboration: The information should be shared between members of the development team to improve communication and expedite problem-solving as members discuss test sessions and results.
- Automated testing integration: A majority of the available remote browser testing solutions include APIs and compatibility with Automation Testing Frameworks, thus can be easily integrated with CI/CD.
Implementing Remote Browser Testing for Microsoft Edge
To leverage remote browser testing for Microsoft Edge, consider the following steps:
- Choose a Remote Browser Testing Platform
Several cloud-based testing platforms offer Microsoft Edge testing capabilities. One of them is LambdaTest. It is an AI-powered test orchestration and execution platform that lets you run manual and automated tests at scale with over 3000+ real devices, browsers and OS combinations.
Known for its extensive Microsoft Edge testing environments, this platform provides cross-browser testing on real browsers and operating systems. It supports multiple Edge versions and integrates seamlessly with automation tools like Selenium, Cypress, and Playwright. LambdaTest also offers parallel testing and allows for live interaction with browsers running on cloud-based infrastructures. In addition to Microsoft Edge,
LambdaTest enables Internet Explorer online testing for legacy browser compatibility, making it a versatile tool for ensuring broad cross-browser coverage. With built-in debugging tools, screenshots, and video recordings, you can streamline your QA process and improve test coverage.
In addition to its comprehensive browser support, LambdaTest offers robust features such as geo-location testing, enabling developers to test how their web applications behave in different regions. It also provides smart testing insights, which help optimize test execution by analyzing previous test results and identifying areas that need more focus.
With real-time collaboration features, team members can share test results, screenshots, and logs instantly, improving communication and speeding up the debugging process. The platform also supports CI/CD integration, allowing for continuous testing and smoother deployment workflows.
Furthermore, when selecting a platform, consider factors such as:
- The range of Edge versions supported
- Available operating systems and device emulations
- Integration options with your existing tools and workflows
- Pricing and scalability
- Customer support and documentation quality
- Set Up Your Testing Environment
Once you’ve chosen a platform, follow these steps to set up your remote testing environment:
- Create an account and configure your project settings.
- Install any necessary plugins or extensions for your preferred development environment.
- Set up authentication tokens or credentials for secure access to the remote testing platform.
- Define Your Testing Strategy
Develop a comprehensive testing strategy that covers various aspects of Edge compatibility:
- Functional testing: Ensure all features and interactions work as expected across different Edge versions.
- Visual testing: Check for layout inconsistencies, rendering issues, and responsive design problems.
- Performance testing: Measure load times, resource usage, and overall responsiveness in Edge.
- Compatibility testing: Verify that your web application functions correctly on Edge across different operating systems and devices.
- Create and Execute Test Cases
Develop a suite of test cases that cover critical user journeys and edge cases. Consider both manual and automated testing approaches:
Manual testing:
- Use remote browsers to manually interact with your web application.
- Document and report any issues or inconsistencies observed.
- Leverage features like screen recording and screenshot capture for better issue documentation.
Automated testing:
- Integrate your chosen remote browser testing platform with automation frameworks like Selenium, Puppeteer, or Playwright.
- Develop automated test scripts that can be executed across multiple Edge versions and configurations.
- Implement parallel test execution to reduce overall testing time.
- Analyze and Act on Test Results
After executing your tests, carefully analyze the results:
- Review test reports and identify any failures or inconsistencies.
- Prioritize issues based on severity and impact on user experience.
- Collaborate with developers to address and resolve identified problems.
- Retest fixed issues to ensure proper resolution.
Best Practices for Remote Edge Testing
- Stay Current with Edge Releases: Regularly update your test matrix to include the latest Edge versions and deprecate older, less relevant versions. This ensures you’re prepared for any new features, security patches, or deprecations that could impact your application’s performance on Edge.
- Test on Multiple Operating Systems: Don’t limit your testing to Windows; include macOS and Linux distributions where Edge is supported. Expanding to multiple OS ensures broader compatibility and improves your application’s reliability across different environments.
- Leverage Device Emulation: You should employ many ActionScript telegram classes to guarantee your web application looks good and fits inside varied gadgets. Device emulation can help identify issues that occur only on specific devices or resolutions, saving valuable resources by eliminating the need for physical testing on each device.
- Combine Manual and Automated Testing: Automated testing is effective in regression testing, but its manual counterpart can reveal new problems and offer insights into the user experience. A balanced approach ensures both efficiency and thoroughness, capturing both known and unexpected issues.
- Integrate with Your CI/CD Pipeline: There is nothing wrong with incorporating Edge testing into your continuous integration pipelines to identify Edge-related problems during the development stages. Automating this step reduces manual intervention and helps catch browser-specific bugs earlier in the development cycle.
- Monitor Performance Metrics: Focus on load time, usage of resources, and other factors relating to Edge to properly assess your web application’s performance. Regularly monitoring performance ensures your app runs smoothly under varying conditions, improving overall user satisfaction.
- Test with Real User Conditions: Take advantage of the network limitation settings and location settings in order to mimic the various conditions users would come across. Testing in real-world scenarios helps you detect performance bottlenecks or accessibility issues under different geographic and network conditions.
- Collaborate Effectively: It is recommended to incorporate some features such as discussing sessions and recording videos in order to connect testers, developers, and other interested parties. Collaborative testing fosters better communication, leading to faster issue resolution and more robust solutions.
- Ensure Cross-Browser Consistency: In addition to Edge, ensure your web application behaves consistently across all major browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. This cross-browser testing will highlight discrepancies that might not be specific to Edge but still impact the overall user experience, ensuring your application is versatile.
- Leverage Browser-Specific Developer Tools: Utilize Edge’s built-in developer tools to debug, inspect, and fine-tune web elements directly within the browser. Taking advantage of browser-specific tools helps catch Edge-specific rendering issues and improves your ability to optimize performance in the actual environment users will experience.
Overcoming Common Challenges in Remote Edge Testing
While remote browser testing offers numerous advantages, it’s essential to be aware of potential challenges and how to address them:
- Network dependencies: Remote testing relies on a stable internet connection. Ensure your team has access to reliable, high-speed internet to minimize disruptions.
- Learning curve: Familiarize your team with the chosen remote testing platform through training sessions and documentation to ensure efficient adoption.
- Test environment consistency: Regularly update and maintain your remote testing environments to ensure consistency across test runs.
- Security considerations: When testing sensitive applications, ensure your remote browser testing platform complies with your organization’s security requirements and data protection regulations.
- Cost management: Monitor usage and optimize your testing processes to balance comprehensive coverage with cost-effectiveness.
The Future of Microsoft Edge Testing
While Microsoft is pushing forward the development of Edge and adding new functionalities, the need for more extensive testing of the browser will be even higher. It is for these reasons that remote browser testing is in an excellent position to meet such increasing needs as scalability, flexibility, as well as extensive coverage.
In the future, one can forecast the further development of remote testing technologies involving:
- Enhanced AI-driven test generation and execution
- Improved integration with emerging web technologies and standards
- More sophisticated performance analysis tools specific to Edge
- Greater emphasis on accessibility testing features
Incorporating remote browser testing for Microsoft Edge now allows development teams to be ready for the future and guarantee a great user experience to any visitor with their web application across different browsers and devices.
Conclusion
In an increasingly diverse and complex web ecosystem, comprehensive Microsoft Edge testing is crucial for delivering high-quality, cross-browser-compatible web applications. Remote browser testing offers a powerful solution to the challenges of traditional testing methods, providing scalability, flexibility, and access to a wide range of Edge versions and configurations.
Remote browser testing helps to improve quality assurance, detect Edge-specific bugs at an early stage, and create a better experience for Edge users. In the future, as WEB technology progresses, remote testing will be more instrumental in making sure that your web application operates in MS Edge to the optimum and in the most friendly way across all known platforms.
Embrace the power of remote browser testing today and take your Microsoft Edge compatibility to the next level. Your users will thank you for it!
