Internet Explorer Online ─ Testing Strategies and Compatibility Considerations

Internet Explorer used to be a really popular web browser. Even though it’s not getting updates, some businesses and groups still use it. This means websites and online apps need to work well with Internet Explorer. Testing on it is important to ensure everything runs smoothly for users who use this browser.

Internet Explorer had its quirks compared to other browsers. It showed websites differently and sometimes had issues with certain tech. Testing on Internet Explorer helped find and fix any glitches, ensuring things looked and worked right for those using it.

By thoroughly testing Internet Explorer, developers can ensure everyone gets a good experience, no matter their preferred browser. This blog goes into more detail about Internet Explorer and testing it. Check it out!

Internet Explorer Testing

Internet Explorer Testing refers to testing web applications and websites to ensure they function correctly and render properly in various Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser versions.

Back in the day, Internet Explorer was a big deal, especially in offices. So, it was super important for web developers to check their stuff on different Internet Explorer versions to ensure everything worked right and people had a good experience.

Internet Explorer testing involves thoroughly evaluating the website or web application to verify its compatibility, functionality, and appearance within the IE environment. This testing process aimed to ensure that the site or application:

• Functioned correctly ─ All features, functions, and interactions worked as expected, without bugs or errors.
• Displayed as intended ─ A website or web app’s layout, design, and visual parts look the same and are shown correctly on all the different versions of Internet Explorer.
• Remained user-friendly ─ The user interface (how things look and work) and navigation (moving around the site) were easy to understand and use. It made browsing smooth and hassle-free for people.

Why is it Important to Check your Websites Using Internet Explorer?

When testing Internet Explorer, trying various versions on different devices is crucial. You should also test it with different settings and internet connections.

Following are the reasons why it is important to test your websites:

• Browser usage distribution ─ Although Internet Explorer’s popularity has dropped, it still has many users, especially in certain industries and places. Some big organizations, like government offices and large companies, require employees to use it for security or compatibility. Ignoring compatibility could mean losing out on many potential customers.
• Rendering platform distinctions ─ Internet Explorer uses a different rendering engine than popular browsers like Chrome and Firefox. Websites may display and render differently in Internet Explorer, potentially causing layout issues, visual inconsistencies, or broken functionality. Testing on IE is crucial to identify and address these rendering discrepancies.
• Web Feature Compatibility and Standardization: Internet Explorer has a distinct set of supported features and web standards compared to modern browsers. Some features that work seamlessly in other browsers may not function correctly or require additional coding or workarounds to ensure compatibility with it . Thorough testing on IE helps identify and address these compatibility issues.
• User experience ─ Testing websites on Internet Explorer is essential to ensure a consistent and user-friendly experience for all visitors, including those with disabilities or limited computer proficiency. IE may handle certain accessibility features differently, and proper testing can help identify and resolve any potential barriers to a seamless browsing experience.
• Performance and security ─ Internet Explorer’s performance and security can vary compared to other browsers. Websites optimized for modern browsers may load slower or exhibit vulnerabilities when accessed through Internet Explorer. Testing on IE allows developers to identify and address these performance and security concerns, ensuring a safe and efficient browsing experience for all users.

Testing Approaches

These are some common testing approaches for Internet Explorer:

• Regression testing ─ Continuously test your site on Internet Explorer to ensure existing functionalities remain intact after updates or changes.
• Compatibility testing ─ Verify that your site works smoothly with specific versions of IE and any required plugins or extensions, given Internet Explorer’s history of compatibility issues.
• Performance testing ─ Check how well your site performs on Internet Explorer, particularly with complex content, to address performance bottlenecks.
• Usability testing ─ Test IE’s user interface and interaction patterns to ensure a seamless experience for users.
• Accessibility testing ─ Ensure your site remains accessible to users with disabilities by testing assistive technologies and accessibility features on Internet Explorer.
• Virtual machine and browser compatibility testing ─ Use virtual machines or cloud-based browser matrices to test across multiple IE versions, operating systems, and device configurations.
• Manual and automated testing ─ Combine manual testing for visual aspects and user interactions with automated testing for consistent and repeatable execution across different IE versions.
• Real-device testing ─ Test on actual devices running different IE versions to gain insights into real-world user experiences and hardware compatibility issues.

By applying these testing approaches, you can ensure your website or application remains robust, functional, and user-friendly across various Internet Explorer environments.

How do I Test My Website on Internet Explorer 11 Browser?

Testing your website on Internet Explorer 11 offers two main avenues: local testing and cloud-based browser testing:

Local Testing

For local testing, you must install IE11 on your computer or virtual machine. This allows you to manually check your site’s rendering and functionality. While this method offers initial insights, it’s limited to your machine’s setup.

Automated testing enhances the process, providing thorough and repeatable verification. Automated test scripts can validate behaviors, detect regressions, and cover complex scenarios on IE11.

Cloud Testing

Cloud testing allows you to replicate diverse user conditions, like different OS versions, network speeds, and browser configurations. This reveals potential issues that are not apparent in local testing.

Automating tests for IE11 is crucial due to its aging browser engine, which may lead to unexpected rendering. AI-assisted test automation tools streamline the creation, maintenance, and execution of rigorous cross-browser tests.

Though it’s usage is declining, many companies still rely on IE11. Thorough testing across various configurations and real-world conditions remains essential to ensure website and app compatibility and functionality on this browser.

Challenges in Internet Explorer Testing

Here are some common challenges faced during Internet Explorer testing:

• Legacy browser support ─ Supporting older versions of Internet Explorer becomes harder as new browser versions come out regularly. These legacy versions often use outdated rendering engines that can’t handle modern web standards well, which means they might lack features and could have security risks. Ensuring your website works well and runs fast on these old IE versions takes a lot of work.
• Non-standard behavior ─ It is known for not always following the usual rules when showing web pages, running JavaScript, and handling web standards. This can cause things to look different or act weird compared to other browsers like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. To fix these problems, you must test everything well and sometimes develop special fixes just for Internet Explorer.
• Compatibility issues ─ Over time, Internet Explorer has faced challenges with compatibility, especially with newer web stuff like CSS features and JavaScript tools. This can cause things to break or look wrong, leading to issues with how websites or apps work. To ensure everything runs smoothly, developers often have to develop special fixes just for it.
• Vendor prefixes and polyfills ─ Developers often add special codes called vendor prefixes or polyfills to ensure certain CSS and JavaScript features work well on different browsers. Dealing with these prefixes and polyfills, especially on different versions of Internet Explorer, can be a hassle. They make the code more complicated and harder to keep up with.
• Limited development tools ─ Unlike modern browsers, Internet Explorer’s development tools and debugging features might be old-fashioned or not as good. This can make it harder to figure out and fix problems, slowing down the troubleshooting and debugging process.
• Fragmented user base ─ Internet Explorer’s user base can be fragmented across different versions and configurations, making extensive testing matrices necessary to cover various operating systems, security settings, and browser add-ons or extensions. This fragmentation complicates the testing process and increases the required resources and effort.
• Enterprise environments ─ In enterprise settings, Internet Explorer is often still used because of legacy systems, internal rules, or the need to work with specific software. Testing in these controlled environments can be tough because of strict security rules and limited access to testing tools, making it harder to test and replicate issues thoroughly.
• Performance optimization ─ Internet Explorer’s rendering and JavaScript engines might not run as smoothly as modern browsers, especially with complex or resource-heavy websites or apps. This could mean extra optimization work to ensure Internet Explorer users’ well-being, adding another complexity to development and testing.
• Accessibility and support for assistive technology ─ Making websites and apps accessible and compatible with assistive technologies on Internet Explorer can be tough because the browser doesn’t fully support accessibility features and standards. This creates challenges in offering an inclusive user experience, especially for people with disabilities who depend on Internet Explorer.

Testing Strategies for Internet Explorer

Here are some common testing strategies for Internet Explorer:

• Browser compatibility check ─ Creating a browser matrix that includes different versions of Internet Explorer, operating systems, and configurations is essential. This matrix should cover a range of IE versions that are still widely used by your target audience. Virtual machines or cloud-based browser testing services can facilitate this testing approach.
• Set up testing environments ─ Use virtual machines, cloud-based browser testing services, or real devices to access and test the different versions of Internet Explorer.
• Perform regression testing: Whenever you update your website or application, conduct regression testing on the relevant versions of Internet Explorer to ensure existing functionalities continue to work as expected.
• Conduct compatibility testing ─ Test your website or application for compatibility with Internet Explorer and any required plugins or extensions. Internet Explorer has had compatibility issues with various web technologies and standards.
• Test performance ─ Evaluate the performance of your website or application on Internet Explorer, as it may render or run slower compared to other modern browsers. Test loading times, scrolling, and other performance aspects.
• Test for accessibility ─ Verify that assistive technologies and accessibility features work as intended on the different versions of Internet Explorer, especially older ones.
• Use manual and automated testing ─ Combine manual testing, where team members follow common user workflows and tasks, with automated testing tools for consistent and repeatable test execution.
• Test on real devices ─ In addition to virtual environments, test on actual devices running different versions of Internet Explorer to uncover potential hardware compatibility or network-related issues.
• Simulate real-world usage scenarios ─ Test your website or application under conditions that mimic real-world usage, such as lower internet speeds, different hardware configurations, or running other programs simultaneously.
• Conduct visual testing ─ Inspect your website or application visually in Internet Explorer to identify any rendering bugs, layout inconsistencies, font issues, or problems with images and multimedia.
• Involve actual users ─ During testing cycles, gather feedback from users who primarily use Internet Explorer to improve the overall user experience.

Conclusion

And that wraps it up!

In this blog, we’ve discussed the importance of Internet Explorer testing. It remains crucial for businesses that cater to legacy users and applications.

By implementing the advice in this post, you can guarantee compatibility with Internet Explorer for your website or web application. This ensures a positive experience for all users who visit your site.