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Testing your WordPress website in multiple browsers

How often do you change the theme of your WordPress website? While some people find one they love and stick to it forever, others like to mix things up a bit and change it regularly.

Themes can display slightly differently depending on which browser you use, so it’s important to test it every time you make a change. Luckily, there are several tools you can use for testing purposes.

Although most people use Google Chrome to access websites, other browsers are widely used such as Firefox and Safari. As there are multiple browsers, devices and operating systems used, testing your website in different browsers is a sensible part of your launch strategy. This ensures a more consistent experience for your visitors.

As part of your WordPress care plan, every time you change your theme or add new functionality to your site, you should check how it behaves on different platforms. Although the majority of web browsers will display content in a similar manner, they do sometimes render certain elements differently.

WordPress care: browser testing tools

Certain testing tools for WordPress allows you to automatically test your website in a range of browsers with just a few clicks. Here are three option to try:

1. BrowserStack

BrowserStack is suitable to test both websites and mobile applications. It comes with a limited free trial account so you can test their services for up to 30 minutes. It allows you to select both the browser and the platform you wish to test so you get an accurate view of how your site will look through live testing.

You simply copy the URL you want to test and BrowserStack will load a virtual emulator within the browser window.

2. CrossBrowserTesting

CrossBrowserTesting is another popular tool. It is a paid service but they do a 100-minute free trial account to test the product. Unlike Browserstack, it doesn’t run live tests so you are relying on screenshots.

However, a good thing about the screenshot feature is that it allows you to compare how your website looks on different operating systems and browsers at once. You can compare them immediately or download them for later analysis.

Under each screenshot taken, CrossBrowserTesting mentions the differences between layouts which can help you see easily see where they vary.

3. BrowserShots

This free tool is simple to use and accessible to all. You just copy your website’s URL in the appropriate field and then choose the browsers you want tested. The system will then generate screenshots of each browser.

The only downside is that it doesn’t cover mobile devices testing or testing under Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge.

After testing, you should take time to analyse the results of your screenshots. A good WordPress theme will mean your screenshots look almost identical. If the results vary a lot, you may wish to consider using a different theme.

Regular testing should be a key aspect to your WordPress care plan. It’s something that can easily be forgotten but it’s important to regularly do it. We’re all about proactive, preventative WordPress Support, so testing is a huge part of what we do. We help many business owners stay on top of their WordPress maintenance so that they can provide the best web experience to customers.

Take a look at our WordPress care plans to see how we can support your business strategy.

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