Web Application Testing Complete Guide (How To Test A Website)

An In-depth Manual on Website Testing: How to Efficiently Test a Website

It is undisputed that in the fast-paced and complex world of today, the internet is an indispensable aspect of our daily lives.

In this technological age, almost all of us rely on the internet to make informed decisions, underscoring why creating a website is not just optional, but essential for every business. A website is the first step towards achieving and maintaining market relevance.

Nonetheless, mere ownership of a website isn’t sufficient. A business must build a website that’s informative, accessible, and user-friendly. To verify that a website fulfills these requirements, it has to undergo rigorous testing, a procedure known as web testing.

What is Web Testing?

Web testing is a software testing technique used to detect potential glitches in websites or web applications. It involves an exhaustive examination of web-based applications before they go live.

A web-based platform needs to be evaluated for functionality and performance across diverse web browsers and devices before it is rolled out to end-users.

Web testing includes examining the user interface design and functionality of a website.

Web Testing Checklists

1) Functionality Testing
2) Testing Usability
3) Interface Testing
4) Compatibility Tests
5) Performance Checks
6) Security Evaluations

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Suggested tools for mastering web testing concepts listed on this page:

#1) CrossBrowserTesting

CrossBrowserTesting allows you to create flawless web experiences on any browser or mobile device with their cloud-based physical device lab. Forget about your VMs and device labs. Run manual, visual, and Selenium tests in the cloud on over 2050 real desktop and mobile browsers.

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#2) LoadNinja

LoadNinja lets you conduct load tests on your web application using actual browsers at scale. It uses test scripts that can be replayed just after recording, generating actionable browser-based performance data to isolate issues and debug errors in real-time.

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#3) LambdaTest

LambdaTest is a scalable cloud-based cross-browser testing platform engineered to provide all testing requirements for web apps and websites on cloud infrastructure.

LambdaTest platform assists in ensuring that your web app elements (such as JavaScript, CSS, HTLM5, Video…etc.) render smoothly across all desktop and mobile web browsers with support for manual, visual, and automated testing. With LambdaTest, you can access up to 2000+ combinations of desktop and mobile browsers on the cloud.

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#1) Functionality Testing

Test for – all webpage links, database connection, forms used for gathering or submitting user information on the web pages, Cookie testing, etc.

Examine all links:

• Test the outgoing links from all pages to the specific domain under test.
• Test all internal links.
• Test links jumping to sections within the same page.
• Test links that send emails to admins or other users from web pages.
• Test to check if there are any dead end or orphan pages.
• Lastly, link testing involves checking for broken links in all the links mentioned above.

Test forms on all pages:
Forms are a vital part of any website. Forms are utilized for obtaining information from users and interacting with them. So what should be checked in these forms?

• Firstly, validate all fields.
• Check for default values in the fields.
• Incorrect inputs in the forms must be checked for validity.
• Options to create, delete, view, or edit forms, if any.

Taking the example of the search engine project, I am currently working on. This project has advertiser and affiliate sign-up steps. Each sign-up step is different but also interconnected.

So, the sign-up flow must be properly executed. There are various field validations like email IDs, user financial information validations, etc. All these validations need to be verified during manual or automated web testing.

Testing Cookies:

Cookies are tiny files stored on the user’s device. They are primarily used to maintain sessions, especially login sessions. Test the application by toggling the cookies on and off in your browser settings.

Check if the cookies are encrypted before being written on the user’s device. If you are testing session cookies (i.e., cookies that expire at the end of the session), verify login sessions and user statuses after the session ends. Evaluate the impact on the application’s security upon deleting the cookies. (I plan to write a separate article on cookie testing soon)

Validate your HTML/CSS: