20 Cross-Browser Testing Interview Questions and Answers

Cross-browser testing is the process of checking how a website or web application looks and behaves on different browsers. This is important because each browser has its own rendering engine and behaves differently. As a result, what may look fine on one browser may look completely different on another.

During a job interview, you may be asked questions about your experience with cross-browser testing. In this article, we will discuss some of the most common questions and how you should answer them.

Cross-Browser Testing Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked Cross-Browser Testing interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is cross-browser testing?

Cross-browser testing is the process of testing how a website or web application looks and functions on different browsers and devices. This is important because different browsers can render web pages differently, and some browsers may not be able to run certain types of code. Cross-browser testing helps to ensure that users will have a consistent experience regardless of which browser they are using.

2. Can you explain the different types of browsers and their role in cross-browser testing?

The three main types of browsers are web browsers, mobile browsers, and email browsers. Web browsers are the most common type of browser and are used to access the internet. Mobile browsers are used to access the internet on mobile devices. Email browsers are used to access email accounts.

Cross-browser testing is the process of testing how a website or web application looks and functions on different types of browsers. This is important because different browsers can render web pages differently. For example, some browsers may not support certain HTML5 features. Cross-browser testing helps ensure that a website or web application will work correctly on all types of browsers.

3. What are some common challenges faced when performing cross-browser testing?

One common challenge is that different browsers can render the same code differently. This can be due to different levels of support for web standards, or different interpretations of the standards. Another challenge is that different browsers can have different levels of support for different features, so you may need to account for that in your code. Additionally, different browsers can have different behaviors in terms of how they handle things like cookies, caching, and JavaScript.

4. How does the number of users accessing a website affect its performance across various platforms and devices?

The number of users accessing a website can have a significant impact on its performance across various platforms and devices. If a website is not designed to handle a large number of users, then it may start to experience slowdowns or crashes. This is why it is important to test a website on as many different platforms and devices as possible before launching it to the public.

5. What do you understand about responsive design?

Responsive design is a technique used in web development to make sure that a website looks and works well on a variety of different devices, from small screens to large ones. This is accomplished by using a mix of flexible layouts, images, and CSS media queries.

6. Why is it important to test web applications on multiple browsers?

It is important to test web applications on multiple browsers because different browsers can render web pages differently. This can lead to issues with the layout or functionality of a web application if it is not designed to work with all major browsers. By testing on multiple browsers, you can ensure that your web application will work as intended for all users.

7. Is it possible to perform cross-browser testing manually? If yes, then how?

Yes, it is possible to perform cross-browser testing manually. The process involves testing your website or application on multiple browsers and devices to ensure that it works as expected. This can be done by using different browsers yourself or by enlisting the help of friends and family.

8. Is it possible to perform cross-browser testing with Selenium WebDriver? If yes, then how?

Yes, it is possible to perform cross-browser testing with Selenium WebDriver. This can be accomplished by using a tool like BrowserStack or Sauce Labs, which provide cloud-based solutions for running Selenium tests across a wide range of browsers and devices.

9. What type of data do you need to gather before starting a cross browser testing project?

Before starting a cross browser testing project, you need to gather data about the browsers that your target audience is using. This data can be gathered through web analytics tools, surveys, or other research methods. Once you have this data, you can then determine which browsers you need to test your website or application on.

10. When should you start a cross-browser testing project?

Cross-browser testing should ideally be started as early as possible in the development process, in order to avoid any potential issues that could arise from browser compatibility issues. By starting early, you can ensure that your website or application will work correctly on all major browsers, and avoid any potential problems that could occur down the line.

11. What’s the difference between unit tests and integration tests?

Unit tests are tests that focus on testing the functionality of a single component in isolation from the rest of the system. Integration tests, on the other hand, focus on testing how different components work together. In general, unit tests are considered to be “lower level” tests, while integration tests are considered to be “higher level” tests.

12. What are the different tools available for automating cross-browser testing?

There are a few different tools available for automating cross-browser testing, including:

– Selenium
– WebDriver
– Watir
– TestComplete
– CrossBrowserTesting

13. Can you explain what an object repository is?

An object repository is a location where all of the objects that are used in a test are stored. This can be useful in cross-browser testing, because it allows you to easily switch between different objects that are needed for different browsers.

14. What are the advantages of using automated testing over manual testing?

Automated testing can be faster and more accurate than manual testing, and can be run more frequently. Automated tests can also be more comprehensive, covering a larger range of functionality.

15. What is your opinion on cloud-based testing?

There are a few different ways to approach cross-browser testing, and cloud-based testing is one option that can be helpful in certain situations. With cloud-based testing, you can test your website or application on a variety of different browsers and devices without having to install and maintain those browsers and devices yourself. This can be a convenient way to test, especially if you don’t have the resources to set up your own testing environment. However, it’s important to keep in mind that cloud-based testing may not be able to replicate all real-world scenarios, so it’s always a good idea to supplement cloud-based testing with other types of testing as well.

16. What’s the difference between smoke testing and regression testing?

Smoke testing is a type of testing that is used to determine whether the software application under test is stable enough to proceed with further testing. This is typically done by running a small subset of test cases that cover the most important functionality of the application. Regression testing, on the other hand, is a type of testing that is used to verify that changes made to the software have not introduced new bugs and that existing functionality has not been broken.

17. Can you give me some examples of real-world websites that have poor cross-browser support?

Unfortunately, there are many examples of websites with poor cross-browser support. A few notable examples include the website for the United States Department of Health and Human Services, which is not compatible with Internet Explorer 11, and the website for the National Weather Service, which is not compatible with Safari.

18. What is your understanding of usability testing?

Usability testing is a process of testing how easy it is for users to use a particular website or application. This can involve testing things like the user interface, navigation, and overall user experience. It is important to do usability testing to ensure that your website or application is easy to use for your target audience, as this can help improve conversion rates and overall satisfaction.

19. Can you explain what accessibility testing is?

Accessibility testing is the process of testing to ensure that a website or application can be used by people with disabilities. This includes testing for things like screen readers, keyboard navigation, and alt text.

20. Do you think mobile compatibility testing is part of cross-browser testing?

Mobile compatibility testing is a subset of cross-browser testing. Cross-browser testing is the process of testing how a website or web application functions across different browsers. This can include testing on different versions of the same browser, testing on different browsers that use the same rendering engine (like Safari and Chrome), or testing on different browsers that use different rendering engines (like Firefox and Internet Explorer). Mobile compatibility testing specifically refers to testing how a website or web application functions on mobile devices, like smartphones and tablets.