Companies striving to establish a strong online presence recognize the indispensability of mobile app development. As people increasingly seek convenient access to information, products, and services, the demand for mobile apps has surged. Consequently, there has been a notable shift towards the utilization of a cross-platform testing tool, leading to the creation of superior applications.

Considering the perpetual budgetary constraints faced by businesses, particularly startups, the necessity for comprehensive application development services becomes evident. These services enable small businesses to develop highly functional apps that resemble native applications. Native apps are renowned for their exceptional quality; however, this expensive affair has prompted numerous companies to explore cross-platform alternatives that offer comparable features at more affordable pricing. In this article, we will delve into the advantages of cross-platform mobile app development. However, before delving into the details, let us clarify the key terminologies.

What are Native and Cross-Platform Apps?

Within the expansive market of mobile app development, competition between native and cross-platform apps has emerged. Each of these options aim to provide distinct features and optimal functionality while striving to maintain competitive pricing. This division among developers has made it progressively difficult to offer comprehensive solutions that cater to both types of apps.

What Are Native Apps?

Since the early days of mobile app development, native apps have been the go-to solution and established themselves as the conventional choice, particularly for larger organizations with the means to invest in expensive development endeavors.

Native apps are built using specific programming languages for each platform, which can be a complex and time-consuming process when it comes to building apps. However, this meticulous approach ultimately yields high-quality applications. By utilizing software development kits (SDKs), developers can achieve seamless integration with the mobile application programming interface (API), resulting in consistent user interfaces (UI) and smooth operation across different operating systems (OSs).

What are Cross-Platform Apps?

Cross-platform apps are software applications specifically engineered to operate seamlessly across multiple operating systems (OS), including Android, iOS, and Windows. These apps leverage a shared codebase, enabling developers to write code once and deploy it across various platforms.

By opting for cross-platform app development, companies can effectively minimize overall development costs and accelerate the entire process. This approach proves particularly beneficial for those seeking to swiftly launch their apps.

What is Cross-Platform App Development?

Let’s envision a scenario where you are traveling around the world. In this scenario, each country has its own distinct currency. You wouldn’t be able to use Indian rupees in Australia or American dollars in the UK, right? The same principle applies to mobile application development.

Android, iOS, and Windows have their unique coding requirements. For an application to function properly, its coding must align with the specifications of these platforms. Previously, this process was time-consuming and demanded significant effort. Developers had to dedicate time to create separate applications for each platform, resulting in duplication of work.

Fortunately, technology has progressed, and we have been fortunate to witness the emergence of cross-platform mobile app development. This development approach involves creating applications that can run smoothly on multiple smartphone platforms. It means that the same codebase can be utilized for applications across different platforms.

According to Statista, more than 98% of mobile users worldwide utilize either Android or iOS as their primary operating system. Consequently, it is prudent and logical for businesses to aim for solutions that cater to the needs of both these user groups. While there are alternative approaches, opting for anything other than cross-platform application development would likely lead to a more expensive affair.

Significance of Cross Browser Testing 

To ensure the proper functionality of web applications across different operating systems, devices, and web browser configurations, cross-browser testing plays a crucial role. Despite adhering to widely accepted standards like HTML and CSS, browsers can interpret code differently based on factors such as default settings, user preferences, hardware capabilities, rendering engines, and support for modern web standards. Additionally, the use of assistive technologies like screen readers can further impact the appearance and functionality of web applications. To overcome the inherent challenges of cross-browser testing, numerous online platforms for application testing are available, which we will explore in the following discussion.

Challenges of Cross Browser Testing

Cross-browser testing goes beyond simply modifying code to accommodate various browsers and operating systems. It involves examining multiple factors, including network speed, device resolution, and browser compatibility. Addressing these situations can prove challenging in the real world, as even slight variations in how an application displays or functions can significantly impact end users. To tackle these challenges effectively, several cross-browser testing tools offer comprehensive solutions for testing and debugging applications across multiple browsers, ensuring optimal performance and an enhanced user experience.

Common Challenges:

• Testing on multiple browsers and operating system platforms.
• Keeping up with frequent browser updates.
• Overcoming the challenges of automating cross-browser testing.
• Establishing an in-house testing team may not be feasible.
• Dealing with the complexities of testing on different operating systems.
• Allocating time for testing bugs related to screen resolution.
• Simultaneously executing tests on different browsers is a demanding task. 

How Cross Browser Testing Improves User Experience?

Ensuring cross-browser compatibility guarantees consistent functionality of an application across all web browsers. Leveraging online app testing enhances accessibility and, in turn, improves the overall user experience. Let’s explore several ways in which cross-browser testing enhances customer experience.  

A User-Friendly App

In order to provide customers with a high level of satisfaction, it is essential to have a user-friendly app. By ensuring accessibility, you can reach a broader audience, including individuals with impairments, and improve your app’s SEO score. In today’s competitive landscape, where consumers have numerous choices, a complex or inaccessible app can lead to customer loss. This may further result in negative feedback on social media and damage your company’s reputation. However, with the help of a cross-browser testing tool, you can ensure that your app functions seamlessly across different platforms and browsers, delivering a consistent experience to every user.

Responsive Images

Each browser engine processes data differently, and this variance can affect the appearance of images on a webpage. Inconsistent rendering may result in blurry or distorted images, leading to a poor user experience. By conducting cross-browser testing, you can pinpoint any compatibility issues that come up due to variations in how the browsers process data. This enables you to ensure maximum compatibility of your website’s images across all browsers and devices. Additionally, cross-browser testing helps identify any incompatible plug-ins or extensions that may impact image rendering, allowing you to address such issues proactively.

Provide Better Call to Action to Customer

The implementation of cross-browser testing is crucial in ensuring the proper functionality of the Call-to-Action (CTA) button on your website or app across diverse browsers and operating systems. It allows you to identify and resolve any compatibility issues that may arise from discrepancies in how different browsers interpret the code on your website. Furthermore, conducting online app testing guarantees that the CTA button on your website performs accurately across all browsers, providing visitors with a consistent and reliable user experience.

Ensures Template Compatibility

Testing website templates across different browsers and operating systems is crucial to ensure compatibility. Website builders like WordPress provide a range of templates that can be used without coding knowledge. However, there are instances where these templates may require adjustments to work properly on specific browsers. Cross-browser testing allows businesses to verify that their website templates function seamlessly across all browsers.

For example, cross-browser testing tools help identify any issues with features such as sliders, toggles, and other functionalities that may not work as intended on certain browsers. This testing process assists in detecting and addressing compatibility problems, ensuring a smooth user experience across different browser environments.

Conclusion

In order to deliver a seamless user experience, modern web development necessitates the incorporation of cross-browser testing. By ensuring that a website operates flawlessly across all browsers, businesses can provide their clients with a consistent and reliable user experience. This, in turn, enhances customer satisfaction, increasing engagement, and ultimately boosting the business revenues. Therefore, both developers and testers should prioritize cross-browser testing to ensure that the user experience remains seamless.

With access to a vast range of browsers, pCloudy offers developers and testers the capability to test their applications thoroughly and efficiently. With over 5000+ device browser combinations at their disposal, pCloudy empowers testers and developers to conduct comprehensive cross-browser testing and ensure the optimal performance of their applications.