The rapid development of Internet technology, commerce, and the whole network dictates its market professionals who are able to provide this process with all the necessary to the proper level. Among them are the so-called web designers and web masters, in whose hands – the card in the Internet any self-respecting company – Web (page, site, server). And if the first (web designer) is developing the site, then the second – his support. There is another possible and discreet, but is gaining his strength specialty – web tester. As a kind of beta tester, this specialist is designed to ensure the highest quality of web pages, and therefore the maximum number of visitors on them.
The purpose of this article – to answer questions that concern anyone who faced the necessity to test the Web. Similarly, we can conduct testing HTML HELP emerging applications.
Who is a web-tester?
Web tester we call a tester not only Web-pages, sites and servers, but who by virtue of their profession faces a test-intensive applications Web-based interface. Due to various circumstances in the role of Web-Tester can act not only individually taken expert, and any other, who creates and maintains the resources and / or applications that are somehow “tied” to the Web.
Tools and methods of web testing
We will not dwell on what is necessary for successful testing. Web tester can (and should) use all the software used by any tester. This bug collectors and managers of TestCase, and tools for automated testing. An important feature of Web testing is its timing. If testing software tester in a few months (sometimes years), then the web tester is only days or weeks (at best) for testing the proposed site. Therefore, if the testing program can and should be detailed test plans, describe the Test Cases based on information received from the developer documentation, testing Web-pages it can significantly move the date of publication of materials on the Internet.
It is important that anyone who has decided to hold a web testing had before it the internet connection (ideally – its various forms: from dial-up to ISDN), various operating systems and different versions of the most popular browsers.
What and how to test?
So in order to conduct testing of the web to pay attention to the following general points:
The following describes only the general provisions:
Let us examine each of the points in detail.
The unity of design.
Under the unity of design, we understand not only, or rather not so much the compatibility of color elements (as is the destiny of the designer), but compliance with the chosen color scheme, gives all the site pages is “unity.” This includes the background color (or image), references (including attendance and active), as well as any other items located on the page. In addition, at this stage we propose to evaluate the size and type of font used for different levels of embedding the text (different levels of headings, the actual text, links, notes, etc.) It also makes sense to assess the compatibility with the design of sound, graphics and animation and check whether there is a unity mapping when using other display enhancements and color depths.
Navigation
Navigation involves testing navigate the site, which gives an idea about the possibility of any user can easily find the desired section, regardless of the ways to implement the menu (text links, images, single image with a map link, etc.). At the same stage the logic of moving between the forms, buttons and other page elements using the TAB, arrow keys, etc.
Functionality
Common approaches to testing the functionality of Web pages are similar to those for testing applications. Below is an indicative list of the basic functionality of Web pages:
Browser Compatibility
It is well known that due to competition, or that the browser is often even significant differences in displaying the same page. To make sure that any user can obtain all the necessary information required for the testing of Web-pages in different browsers. In addition there are differences between different versions of the same browser. It should also be taken into account when testing.
OS Compatibility
Different operating systems may also affect the display of certain pages. This dictates the need to test on different operating systems, as well as in their various versions and upgrades.
“Friendliness”
Under the “friendliness” We understand just how simple, easy to use and intuitive interface of the site: Is it easy to navigate, whether the menu is not whether to use annoying tricks, not how many pop-ups, whether all the links are “working”, all whether the necessary data available to the user, etc. For example, if your site has a file for download, it is desirable that the user had the opportunity to advance knowledge of its size, could estimate the time of injection.
“Efficiency”
Check the “efficiency” implies the assessment of download speeds as pages on the site as a whole, and each element separately. This includes an estimate of the size used in drawings, html-files, audio and video files, their adaptation to different types of connections (from conventional modem dial-up connections, from 14400, to high-speed technology).
This article is a review and reflects only the most general terms and approaches to Web-based testing. No doubt, depending on the goals, objectives and directions of the site testing it may depart from the standards and regulations. One thing is certain – Testing of Web-sites is very important, regardless of whether the site is commercial or is it just a personal web page.