Visual Regression Testing: Everything You Need to Know in 2023

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<p>Developers often rely on tools to simulate different browser environments when they have to test how well a website performs across different platforms. Since Safari is the most popular browser for Apple systems, it is very important to be able to simulate it.&nbsp;When developers run an emulation of Safari, what it really means that they can guarantee that the website will work as it should when it is opened in safari browser in different environments.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Can_You_Run_the_Safari_Browser_on_Windows_10_11"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> Can You Run the Safari Browser on Windows 10 &amp; 11?</a></li><li><a href="#How_Can_I_Test_Websites_on_Safari_Without_Macnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> How Can I Test Websites on Safari Without Mac?&nbsp;</a><ul><li><a href="#Use_a_Virtual_Machine"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.1</span> Use a Virtual Machine</a></li><li><a href="#Use_cross-browser_testing_tools"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.2</span> Use cross-browser testing tools</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Safari_browser_testing_using_Testsigma"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Safari browser testing using Testsigma</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Test_Safari_Browser_on_Windows"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> How to Test Safari Browser on Windows?</a></li><li><a href="#Emulate_Safari_Across_Other_Different_OS"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Emulate Safari Across Other Different OS</a><ul><li><a href="#How_to_Emulate_Safari_on_Linux"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">5.1</span> How to Emulate Safari on Linux?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Emulate_Safari_Using_Various_Browsers"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Emulate Safari Using Various Browsers</a><ul><li><a href="#How_to_Emulate_Safari_on_Chrome"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.1</span> How to Emulate Safari on Chrome</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Emulate_Safari_in_Firefox"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.2</span> How to Emulate Safari in Firefox</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Emulate_Safari_on_Internet_Explorer"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.3</span> How to Emulate Safari on Internet Explorer?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Emulate_Safari_on_Edge"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.4</span> How to Emulate Safari on Edge?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Emulate_Safari_Browser_Onlinenbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Emulate Safari Browser Online&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#Summary"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> Summary</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">9</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#Can_you_emulate_Safari_on_PC"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">9.1</span> Can you emulate Safari on PC?</a></li><li><a href="#How_do_I_emulate_a_device_in_Safari"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">9.2</span> How do I emulate a device in Safari?</a></li><li><a href="#How_do_I_test_Safari_online"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">9.3</span> How do I test Safari online?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-can-you-run-the-safari-browser-on-windows-10-11"><span id="Can_You_Run_the_Safari_Browser_on_Windows_10_11"><strong>Can You Run the Safari Browser on Windows 10 &amp; 11?</strong></span></h2>



<p>A segment of users wishes to use Safari as a default browser on Windows 10 and 11. This is because of its user-friendly design and speed. Safari runs parallel with popular browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox when it comes to its outstanding performance. However, there is a catch.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Even if you can download Safari on Windows, you risk your system because you can face potential security issues. The overall performance of your PC might even get compromised if you download expired or old versions of the software. Apple, therefore, has discontinued offering Safari as a standalone browser for any other operating system, including Windows.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, you can install the browser as a substitute browser on any PC that runs the operating system of Microsoft from unofficial online platforms. Concludingly, we can say that there is currently no Safari emulator for Windows.&nbsp;</p>



<p>No Safari emulator is dedicated to running on any version of Windows, be it Windows 10 or 11. However, many websites offer users the option of testing Safari on Windows.</p>



<h2 id="h-how-can-i-test-websites-on-safari-without-mac"><span id="How_Can_I_Test_Websites_on_Safari_Without_Macnbsp"><strong>How Can I Test Websites on Safari Without Mac?&nbsp;</strong></span></h2>



<p style="padding-top: 20px">Safari has been deemed the second most popular browser in 2022 and is the native default browser of Apple devices. It is an ideal browser for testing any online product or site because of its fast responsiveness.</p>



<p>However, one of the biggest challenges most software testers and website developers face is the lack of a Mac (iMac or Macbook). You are primarily required to have a Mac for both automated and manual testing in the Safari browser because this browser is platform-specific.</p>



<p>To address this problem, you can use the following hacks to test your product on the Safari browser:-</p>



<h3 id="h-use-a-virtual-machine"><span id="Use_a_Virtual_Machine">Use a Virtual Machine</span></h3>



<p>You don’t need to worry about not having a Mac to run your tests on the Safari browser. To do so, you can easily conduct them on a Windows local host with the help of a virtual machine by using your PC or system as the server.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Numerous virtual machines are available for you to choose from, and they will run any browser inside Linux or Windows.&nbsp;</p>



<p>All you need to do is configure a handful of settings at the hardware and the software level (choosing the amount of disk space and RAM to allocate to each OS). Your computer, however, needs to have enough power to sustain this configuration.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="use-cross-browser-testing-tools"><span id="Use_cross-browser_testing_tools">Use <a href="https://testsigma.com/cross-browser-testing-tools" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cross-browser testing tools</a></span></h3>



<p>To overcome the challenge of testing websites on Safari without a Mac, you can opt for these testing tools. These tools allow you to see how the website functions and looks on multiple browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc. These tools detect and report <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/9-tips-to-avoid-cross-browser-compatibility-issues-from-the-start/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cross-browser compatibility errors</a> since they help test on different browsers, environments, and screen resolutions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This approach significantly reduces the risk of user dissatisfaction and also increases its accessibility &#8211; which means greater customer loyalty.</p>



<p>Some of the famous tools are <a href="https://testsigma.com/">Testsigma</a>, Lambdatest, and BrowserStack.</p>



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<h2 id="safari-browser-testing-using-testsigma"><span id="Safari_browser_testing_using_Testsigma">Safari browser testing using <a href="https://testsigma.com/">Testsigma</a></span></h2>



<p>Testing your application on Safari is crucial for ensuring compatibility with Apple&#8217;s ecosystem.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Testsigma makes this process straightforward by integrating with various tools that support Safari browser testing. This setup provides an environment to validate how your application performs on Safari without needing a Mac.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By running your tests in Testsigma, you can seamlessly incorporate Safari browser testing into your automated test suite, ensuring a consistent user experience across all browsers.&nbsp;</p>



<p>So, you can effectively address any compatibility issues and optimize your application&#8217;s performance for Safari users.</p>



<p><em>Here&#8217;s a snapshot of a <a href="https://testsigma.com/cross-browser-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cross-browser test</a> set up in Testsigma:</em></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="512" height="453" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/11122256/Emulate-safari-using-Testsigma.png" alt="Emulate-safari-using-Testsigma" class="wp-image-47763"/></figure></div>



<h2 id="how-to-test-safari-browser-on-windows"><span id="How_to_Test_Safari_Browser_on_Windows"><strong>How to Test Safari Browser on Windows?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Testing Safari Browser on Windows can be challenging because Safari is primarily designed for macOS and iOS platforms. However, there are a few approaches you can consider to test Safari on a Windows machine:</p>



<ul><li><strong>Remote testing services:</strong> Utilize remote testing services such as BrowserStack or Sauce Labs, which offer virtual machines with different operating systems and browsers, including Safari on macOS. These services allow you to access and test Safari on real macOS environments directly from your Windows machine through a web browser.</li><li><strong>macOS virtual machines:</strong> Set up a macOS virtual machine (VM) on your Windows computer using virtualization software like VMware or VirtualBox. You can install Safari on the macOS VM and perform testing as you would on a native macOS environment.</li><li><strong>Remote access to macOS device:</strong> If you have access to a physical macOS device, you can remotely connect to it from your Windows machine using remote desktop software like TeamViewer, AnyDesk, or Chrome Remote Desktop. This allows you to control and test Safari on the macOS device without needing to physically access it.</li><li><strong>Tools:</strong> Some tools like BrowserStack or Sauce Labs offer a feature called &#8220;Interactive Testing&#8221; where you can remotely access and interact with Safari browsers running on real macOS devices from your Windows machine.</li><li><strong>Cloud-based test automation platforms:</strong> Consider using a cloud-based test automation platform like <a href="https://testsigma.com/">Testsigma</a>, which provides access to real macOS environments with Safari installed. Testsigma allows you to run automated tests on Safari Browsers without needing physical access to macOS devices.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-emulate-safari-across-other-different-os"><span id="Emulate_Safari_Across_Other_Different_OS"><strong>Emulate Safari Across Other Different OS</strong></span></h2>



<p>There are separate pathways for different operating systems when it comes to emulating Safari. We have consolidated the best ways to emulate Safari on the following OS:-</p>



<h3 id="h-how-to-emulate-safari-on-linux"><span id="How_to_Emulate_Safari_on_Linux">How to Emulate Safari on Linux?</span></h3>



<p>To emulate Safari on Linux, you can follow two methods.</p>



<ul><li>Installing Safari using WINE.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Using WINE and PlayOnLinux provides a graphical user interface (UI) for WINE.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<ul><li>Using a virtual visualization application for <a href="https://testsigma.com/cross-browser-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cross-browser testing</a></li></ul>



<h2 id="h-emulate-safari-using-various-browsers"><span id="Emulate_Safari_Using_Various_Browsers"><strong>Emulate Safari Using Various Browsers</strong></span></h2>



<p style="padding-top: 20px">There are several browsers available that users use at their convenience. This is why you must test it on every possible platform before launching your website or application. Down below, we have listed the various ways you can emulate Safari on commonly used browsers:-</p>



<h3 id="h-how-to-emulate-safari-on-chrome"><span id="How_to_Emulate_Safari_on_Chrome">How to Emulate Safari on Chrome</span></h3>



<p>To emulate Safari on Chrome, you can use websites such as TestingBot or Chrome extensions such as BrowserStack. BrowserStack is a reliable solution that allows you to initiate testing sessions with a large number of device and browser combinations. You can immediately set up a Safari testing environment by clicking on the BrowserStack extension icon in your Chrome browser.</p>



<p>Alternatively, you can use these steps to emulate Safari using the Developer tools:</p>



<ul><li>Hit the Control + Shift + I keys to open the Developer tools environment</li><li>Go to the Network tab and click on Network conditions</li><li>Go to the User Agent section and unselect the ‘Use browser default’ radio button and click on the dropdown with the ‘custom’ label</li><li>Scroll down till you can see the devices under Safari, and then select the device (Mac, iPad etc.) you want to emulate Safari with</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-how-to-emulate-safari-in-firefox"><span id="How_to_Emulate_Safari_in_Firefox">How to Emulate Safari in Firefox</span></h3>



<p>Firefox is notably one of the most popular browsers used by millions worldwide. If you want to emulate Safari in Firefox, you have to use visualization software which you can download as a browser extension or turn to a <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/9-tips-to-avoid-cross-browser-compatibility-issues-from-the-start/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cross-browser compatibility testing</a> website. The latter option is completely free of cost, hassle-free, and requires no technological prowess.</p>



<h3 id="h-how-to-emulate-safari-on-internet-explorer"><span id="How_to_Emulate_Safari_on_Internet_Explorer">How to Emulate Safari on Internet Explorer?</span></h3>



<p>Internet Explorer is one of the oldest browsers known to mankind. Although quite rarely used, it is still surprisingly used to this day. If you still use Internet Explorer to this day, you can emulate Safari on Internet Explorer with a <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-cross-browser-testing-tool" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cross-browser testing platform</a> or an additionally installed extension.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="h-how-to-emulate-safari-on-edge"><span id="How_to_Emulate_Safari_on_Edge">How to Emulate Safari on Edge?</span></h3>



<p>Edge is a popular browser developed by Microsoft. You can emulate other browsers by changing the user string. If you want to emulate Safari on Edge, you need to follow the steps listed below:-</p>



<ul><li>Open Microsoft Edge and visit the link you wish to test</li><li>Hit the F12 key to open the Developer tools environment</li><li>Go to the Network tab and click on Network conditions</li><li>Go to the User Agent section and unselect the ‘Select automatically’ radio button and click on the dropdown</li><li>Scroll down till you can see the devices under Safari and then select the device (Mac, iPad etc.) you want to emulate Safari with</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-emulate-safari-browser-online"><span id="Emulate_Safari_Browser_Onlinenbsp"><strong>Emulate Safari Browser Online&nbsp;</strong></span></h2>



<p style="padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 10px">Although the ideal way to emulate Safari is by using an open-source testing platform, some other ways to do the same have been listed below:-</p>



<ul><li>Using browser widgets</li><li>Downloading older versions of Safari, like Safari 5.1.7 or previous versions&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-summary"><span id="Summary"><strong>Summary</strong></span></h2>



<p>Every application or website is built using codes using HTML, JavaScript, or CSS elements. Since they are launched online, it is impossible to ascertain which user will use which browser. Safari has its own technology, comes with its own set of challenges, and interprets every application in its own way.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Therefore, to ensure that your website or application runs smoothly on Safari, you need to conduct <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-cross-browser-testing-tool" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automated cross-browser testing</a> to maintain consistency in its display and functionality. Running automation tests is also integral to software testing. <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a> is a great platform for seamlessly running automation tests.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-frequently-asked-questions"><span id="Frequently_Asked_Questions"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions</strong></span></h2>



<h3 id="h-can-you-emulate-safari-on-pc"><span id="Can_you_emulate_Safari_on_PC">Can you emulate Safari on PC?</span></h3>



<p>The Safari Browser has now been limited only to <a href="https://stackshare.io/stackups/ios-vs-mac-os-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">macOS and iOS</a>. However, you can easily emulate this browser on Windows or any other OS by using a virtual machine with your computer as the server.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="h-how-do-i-emulate-a-device-in-safari"><span id="How_do_I_emulate_a_device_in_Safari">How do I emulate a device in Safari?</span></h3>



<p>To emulate a device in Safari, you can use the Simulator added with Xcode and debug/inspect those reviews remotely by using the Develop menu in Safari.</p>



<h3 id="h-how-do-i-test-safari-online"><span id="How_do_I_test_Safari_online">How do I test Safari online?</span></h3>



<p>To run a website on a Safari browser without a Mac, you can use a cross-browser testing tool or an online testing platform.&nbsp;</p>



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How to Emulate the Latest Safari Browser for Testing Websites in 2022

How to Emulate the Latest Safari Browser Online


<p>The ever-increasing usage of the internet has changed how we humans interact with technology. Everything is just a few touches away, be it booking a cab, making a payment, ordering groceries, medicines, or other services. For developers who create such complex applications, it’s essential that they test these applications thoroughly. Hence, understanding the key differences between&nbsp;mobile application testing&nbsp;vs web application testing becomes quite crucial.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Mobile_Application_Testing_vs_Web_Application_Testing_8211_Overview"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> Mobile Application Testing vs Web Application Testing &#8211; Overview</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_Mobile_Application_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.1</span> What is Mobile Application Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_Web_Application_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.2</span> What is Web Application Testing?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Difference_Between_Mobile_Application_Testing_and_Web_Application_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Difference Between Mobile Application Testing and Web Application Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Mobile_Application_Testing_VS_Web_Application_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Mobile Application Testing VS Web Application Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_are_the_skills_required_for_mobile_application_and_web_application_testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">5.1</span> What are the skills required for mobile application and web application testing?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="mobile-application-testing-vs-web-application-testing-overview"><span id="Mobile_Application_Testing_vs_Web_Application_Testing_8211_Overview"><strong>Mobile Application Testing vs Web Application Testing &#8211; Overview</strong></span></h2>



<h3 id="3ki54"><span id="What_is_Mobile_Application_Testing">What is Mobile Application Testing?</span></h3>



<p>Mobile application testing is the process of validating any mobile application before releasing it to the public. We test its usability and functionality as per the requirements specified by the business. Thus, it helps us understand whether the mobile application meets the technical and functional expectations.</p>



<p>The main goal behind developing any mobile application is to increase its reach and make it accessible globally. Hence, we don’t want the application to have bugs and technical faults when launched. Needless to say, no business would want its customer to come up with complaints and switch to a different competitor.</p>



<p>Hence, we need to <a href="https://testsigma.com/mobile-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test any mobile application</a> on multiple devices, screen resolutions, operation systems such as Android and iOS, network bandwidths, etc. The application should run flawlessly on all the combinations of device configurations.</p>



<p>Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/mobile-testing-tools" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top Mobile Automation Testing Tools</a></p>



<h3 id="jlc9"><span id="What_is_Web_Application_Testing">What is Web Application Testing?</span></h3>



<p>Web application testing is the process of testing the website for potential bugs or any other unwanted issues before we release it to the end users. Most businesses still prefer web applications that can run on browsers on desktop as well as mobile devices. This allows them to provide seamless user interaction on their most-used devices.</p>



<p>Similar to mobile application testing, there are different aspects of web application testing as well. When we test a web application, we must ensure it meets the functional requirements. More than that, it should be able to meet the performance benchmarks, should not be prone to security leaks, and must be compatible with all possible browser configurations.</p>



<p>A testing plan for a website should at least include a test strategy, objectives, and approach. It should also have a set of well-defined test cases and test suites and an environment where the tests need to be executed. Moreover, the testers should be able to automate the repetitive web application test cases to save time and effort.</p>



<p>Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-cases-example-for-web-application/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Web Applications Test Cases</a></p>



<h2 id="e60hn"><span id="Difference_Between_Mobile_Application_Testing_and_Web_Application_Testing"><strong>Difference Between Mobile Application Testing and Web Application Testing</strong></span></h2>



<p>The difference between mobile application testing vs web application testing boils down to their purpose, intended users, and complexity.</p>



<p>In web application testing, we test our websites for functionality, usability, and quality across different OS, browsers, and versions. On the other hand, in mobile application testing, we verify whether or not the mobile application works as intended across thousands of mobile device configurations.</p>



<p>Therefore, it is essential that both these types of applications perform up to the benchmark and are bug-free. Ultimately, it all comes down to providing a seamless user experience and retaining the end users. Having discussed this, let’s dive deep into the basic differences between mobile application testing vs web application testing.</p>



<p>Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/modern-tools-for-automated-testing-of-your-web-applications/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Website Testing Tools</a></p>



<h2 id="e60hn"><span id="Mobile_Application_Testing_VS_Web_Application_Testing"><strong>Mobile Application Testing VS Web Application Testing</strong></span></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-table">
<table style="border: 1px solid black; border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">
<td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;"><strong>Mobile Application Testing</strong></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;"><strong>Web Application Testing</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">
<td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">Developing and testing responsive mobile applications, especially for devices with small resolutions like mobile phones and tablets, is difficult.</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">Developing and testing responsive web applications for larger screen resolutions is relatively easier.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">
<td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">Due to the complexity of mobile applications and the involvement of many components, it’s challenging to test mobile applications.</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">Testing web applications is relatively easier.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">
<td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">We need to test the mobile applications on a combination of different device configurations like OS (iOS and Android), resolutions, hardware configurations, OEMs, etc.</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">Web applications must be tested across different browser versions and OS combinations.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">
<td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">Mobile applications that consume a lot of power and drain battery are not well-received by end users. Hence, the testing teams must test the applications on fully-charged and drained mobile devices.</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">There is no such constraint for testing web applications as it depends solely on the browser.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">
<td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">The testing team needs to consider the interaction of the devices with user actions such as gestures, voice, noise, etc. This is due to the number of features that smartphones provide the users to interact with different applications.</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">Web browsers do not offer many options to interact and even if they do, users preferably use mouse and keyboard control to access web applications. Hence, the scope of testing is less.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">
<td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">Nowadays, mobile applications are also accessible via peripheral devices connected to the mobile such as fitness trackers, smart watches, medical devices like pacemakers, etc. Hence, they need to be tested on these devices as well.</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">Web applications are mostly accessed on browsers. Other peripheral devices include webcams, controllers, etc. However, they are not used on a large scale.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">
<td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">Some popular tools and frameworks for mobile application testing are – Testsigma, Appium, Xamarin, Espresso, XCUITest, Robotium, etc.</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">Commonly used web application testing tools are – Selenium, WebLoad, devtools in browsers, Acunetix, etc.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>



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<h2 id="8i5po"><span id="Conclusion"><strong>Conclusion</strong></span></h2>



<p>To sum up, testing is a crucial part of the <a href="https://www.netscaler.com/articles/what-is-an-application-delivery" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">delivery process of any application</a>, be it a mobile or desktop web application. With the availability of a plethora of devices with multiple configurations, testing the robustness of an application on all these platforms is quite a hectic task. Hence, switching over to an automated testing solution will save you a lot of time, effort, and cost.</p>



<p>To ensure a bug-free product, you must test your application in all possible device configurations that the end users commonly use. New-age automated tools like Testsigma and others provide a complete solution with thousands of real devices hosted on cloud.</p>



<p>Hence, you need to choose wisely before you invest in any automated testing tool so that it has all the features and appropriate support that your application needs.</p>



<h2 id="c1dob"><span id="Frequently_Asked_Questions"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions</strong></span></h2>



<h3 id="60t5p"><span id="What_are_the_skills_required_for_mobile_application_and_web_application_testing">What are the skills required for mobile application and web application testing?</span></h3>



<p>To test any application, the tester must have these basic skills to ensure that the final product meets the business requirements and benchmarks. S/he should have a deep understanding of the features to be developed, should be able to choose the right testing tool, and automate the testing as much as possible. This is possible with the ability to write automation scripts and set up proper test environments.</p>



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<ts-linktext-value>Mobile Application Testing</ts-linktext-value>
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<ts-linktext-value>Web Application Testing</ts-linktext-value>
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<ts-linktext-value>Desktop Application Testing vs Web Application Testing</ts-linktext-value>
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Mobile Application Testing vs Web Application Testing image

Mobile Application Testing vs Web Application Testing – Key Differences

<p>As rapid technological advancements drive the digital era, providing customers with the latest and most intuitive applications has become a necessity. To ensure high application quality and reliability, businesses need to leverage testing and staging environments. Where a testing environment ensures each application component does its job, the staging environment ensures the components still perform well when deployed in a live environment. Let’s have an overview of the <strong>staging environment vs test environment</strong>, their best practices, and more.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_a_Test_Environment"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is a Test Environment?</a><ul><li><a href="#Elements_of_Test_Environment"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.1</span> Elements of Test Environment</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Why_Do_You_Need_a_Testing_Environment"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Why Do You Need a Testing Environment?</a></li><li><a href="#Best_Practices_for_an_Effective_Test_Environment"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Best Practices for an Effective Test Environment</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_a_Staging_Environment"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> What is a Staging Environment?</a></li><li><a href="#Why_Do_You_Need_a_Staging_Environment"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Why Do You Need a Staging Environment?</a></li><li><a href="#Best_Practices_for_a_Reliable_Staging_Environment"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Best Practices for a Reliable Staging Environment</a></li><li><a href="#Staging_Environment_vs_Test_Environment_What8217s_the_Difference"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Staging Environment vs Test Environment: What&#8217;s the Difference?</a></li><li><a href="#Summary"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> Summary</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">9</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_the_difference_between_staging_and_QA"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">9.1</span> What is the difference between staging and QA?</a></li><li><a href="#What_comes_first_UAT_or_staging"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">9.2</span> What comes first, UAT or staging?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_different_types_of_testing_environments"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">9.3</span> What are the different types of testing environments?</a></li><li><a href="#How_many_environments_are_there_in_QA"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">9.4</span> How many environments are there in QA?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="uoip"><span id="What_is_a_Test_Environment"><strong>What is a Test Environment?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Every application developed needs to be validated to ensure it performs as per the end user’s expectations. <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-environment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Test environments</a> are platforms that help design and run multiple test cases on the application as well as the associated hardware and network configurations. This environment consists of all the required resources needed to execute the tests, such as OS, servers, drivers, and so on.</p>



<p>Basically, a test environment is a setup that brings together hardware, software, data, and a combination of configurations to perform testing. These are configured according to the needs of the software being tested to ensure it performs well in all conditions.</p>



<p>Test environments are not one-size-fits-all in nature. It is the component that dictates the environment setup. The main aim of setting up a test environment is to enable QA teams to validate the application and find underlying bugs that are fixed to prevent any negative user experience.</p>



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<h3 id="5899g"><span id="Elements_of_Test_Environment">Elements of Test Environment</span></h3>



<p>Certain factors are required to perform testing in a test environment. These are mentioned below:</p>



<p><strong>Servers and Databases for Testing</strong></p>



<p>Servers are environments where software is deployed for testing. Databases store massive datasets in the form of test results from the executed tests.</p>



<p><strong>Team of Testers</strong></p>



<p>A setup for a testing environment features different types of people who create test cases to find all possible bugs and defects. These are:</p>



<ul><li>Dev team, which develops the software</li><li>Testers who run various tests to validate the software</li><li>System admin, who provides backend support.</li></ul>



<p><strong>Network for Testing</strong></p>



<p>The network acts as a channel to transfer test data. The <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/test-process/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">software testing process</a> generates a significant amount of data in the form of inputs, outputs, simulation data, etc. An ideal testing network features a network, LAN setup, or private network.</p>



<p><strong>Tools for Reporting Bugs</strong></p>



<p>Reporting the bugs is as critical as detecting them. The test environment should use reliable and effective defect-logging tools so that the developers can easily understand what needs to be fixed. Some examples of popular bug-reporting tools are Bugzilla and JIRA.</p>



<p><strong><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-environment-management/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Managing Test Environment</a></strong></p>



<p>Management of the test environment is critical to ensure they can be utilized whenever required. This includes <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-bed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test beds </a>according to the needs of the QA team. Test management also includes setting up a test repository and supporting software and ensuring these are updated through version control. Test environment management also means creating adequate documentation for the setup details, testing history, and outcomes. This helps in making future test cases and may be used as reference points in fixing similar bugs.</p>



<h2 id="86b1a"><span id="Why_Do_You_Need_a_Testing_Environment"><strong>Why Do You Need a Testing Environment?</strong></span></h2>



<p>A well-designed test environment is essential to ensure the investment in creating robust test cases pays off. A test environment enables testers to have comprehensive feedback about the application quality. In other words, a test environment provides teams with the necessary setup to run the test cases.</p>



<p>A test environment further helps in providing a dedicated environment to isolate the code and verify the application&#8217;s behavior. This ensures that no other activities that can influence the output of the tests are running on the server.</p>



<p>Moreover, a test environment can replicate the production environment, which is crucial for being confident about the testing outcomes. The testing engineer needs to ensure that the application behaves the same way in the test environment as in the production environment.</p>



<h2 id="88a5j"><span id="Best_Practices_for_an_Effective_Test_Environment"><strong>Best Practices for an Effective Test Environment</strong></span></h2>



<p>Creating a software testing environment is essential for any organization that wants to ensure the quality of its software applications. This helps testers run various tests to identify and fix defects early in development.</p>



<p>Setting up a proper test environment needs experience, resources, and effort. Here are a few best practices for setting up an effective <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-environment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">software testing environment</a>:</p>



<ul><li>Define the testing goals. It should be clear what the testers want to achieve with testing.</li><li>Identify what <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/the-different-software-testing-types-explained/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">types of testing</a> would be required. Some of the critical kinds of testing are Unit testing, Integration testing, Acceptance testing, Regression testing.</li><li>Determine the scope of software testing. It should be clear which parts of the software will be tested.</li><li>Create test cases while keeping in mind the requirements and features.</li><li>The test environment should feature a comprehensive software, hardware, and network configuration setup.</li><li>Ensure the testing environment is secure.</li><li>The environment should be scalable to incorporate the increasing volumes of user traffic and app data.</li><li>Ensure the code changes are validated periodically before the updates are pushed to production.</li><li>Ensure the test environment is updated and includes the latest software and hardware configurations.</li></ul>



<h2 id="e4eh5"><span id="What_is_a_Staging_Environment"><strong>What is a Staging Environment?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Staging environments consist of software, hardware, and configuration similar to the production environments. It is through these similarities testers can mimic the real-world production environment.</p>



<p>Staging environments are replicas of the production environments. It imitates the production environment as closely as possible to ensure application quality. The purpose of setting up a staging environment is to validate the application approaching the production stage to ensure the app will perform well post-deployment.</p>



<p>Simply put, it is a stage where Dev and QA teams can perform various tests on the software and identify its best version. It ensures that the users are always provided with the best software experience.</p>



<h2 id="1d6kj"><span id="Why_Do_You_Need_a_Staging_Environment"><strong>Why Do You Need a Staging Environment?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Working with a staging environment allows testers to verify all assumptions made before development and ensure that application deployments are successful. Also, testing new changes takes care of the risk of bugs hampering the end-user experience because the bugs are resolved before going to the live environment.</p>



<p>It is also recommended to deploy the staging environment as part of a release. This ultimately allows the Dev and QA teams to identify any coding, integration, or data bottlenecks.</p>



<p>There are several benefits of using a staging environment:</p>



<ul><li>A staging environment allows the testers to validate the application in a near-production environment.</li><li>A staging environment offers a medium for performing QA checks to ensure the application is of the best possible quality.</li><li>The developers release the new versions of the application in the staging environment to ensure everything is working as intended.</li><li>This environment may be used to share product and services demos with the customers.</li></ul>



<h2 id="c18qa"><span id="Best_Practices_for_a_Reliable_Staging_Environment"><strong>Best Practices for a Reliable Staging Environment</strong></span></h2>



<p><strong>Have a dedicated database server</strong></p>



<p>The database features the entire content of the application. Hence, it is crucial to prevent the staging database override over the live database. It is recommended to use a dedicated database server for staging. Testers can refresh the staging database from scratch if they make any mistakes.</p>



<p><strong>Ensure comprehensive testing</strong></p>



<p>When updates are made to software, it is critical to ensure that they do not break anything. Testing assures that the updates and modifications made in the staging environment do not break the live product. A comprehensive test strategy plan, which includes both automation and manual testing, should be made before making any updates to the staging environment.</p>



<p><strong>Monitor the testing environment</strong></p>



<p>Monitoring bears many benefits in a pre-production environment, the foremost being ensuring that code updates do not hamper the production environment. Testers can know the possibilities of failure when the code is deployed by monitoring the testing environments and cases. It is difficult for testers to follow every possible user path and bug. Here, monitoring enables error tracking and ensures quicker code modifications.</p>



<p><strong>Perform debugging and testing</strong></p>



<p>Effective testing and debugging procedures ensure that high-quality code is produced consistently. These include automated testing, regular logging, and bug tracking.</p>



<p><strong>Clone the exact infrastructure</strong></p>



<p>When creating the staging environment, ensure that the same resources are used. These include:</p>



<ul><li>Cloud provider</li><li>Virtualization tools</li><li>API gateways</li></ul>



<p><strong>Ensure a secure environment</strong></p>



<p>Since a staging environment imitates a production environment, both share the same data. If a staging environment is compromised, it may also put the production environment at risk. To prevent any security incidents, testers should use a different domain for staging with restricted access. Data should be encrypted in transit, and complex credentials should be utilized to access the staging environment.</p>



<p><strong>Create backups</strong></p>



<p>When working with a staging environment, any data loss in the staging environment can lead to data loss in the production environment. Hence, it is critical to have data backups of the staging environment to enable quick data recovery in case something goes wrong. <a href="https://docs.aws.amazon.com/aws-backup/latest/devguide/whatisbackup.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AWS backup is a recommended way</a> to create effective data backups for staging environments.</p>



<p>Above we have discussed all about Test environment and staging environment, best practices and more , now lets look into staging environment vs test environment differences.</p>



<h2 id="1qsa2"><span id="Staging_Environment_vs_Test_Environment_What8217s_the_Difference"><strong>Staging Environment vs Test Environment: What&#8217;s the Difference?</strong></span></h2>



<p>A staging environment and a testing environment differ in the levels of resemblance these provide to testers. In a staging environment, versions are kept up to date to ensure everything resembles the live version except for the recently pushed updates from the Dev environment. This allows testers to deploy the software updates to a live environment while ensuring that nothing breaks in the process.</p>



<p>This may only sometimes be the case with a testing environment. Rather than testing everything end-to-end, testers often work on assumptions of how the software will work and test the changes made to the source code. The testing environment ensures that the code updates are tested faster and without needing to imitate the entire live environment, as in the case of staging environments. Now lets check out the table given below with staging environment vs test environment differences.</p>



<p></p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Staging Environment&nbsp;</strong></td><td><strong>Test Environment</strong></td></tr><tr><td>A staging environment mimics the production environment to perform final QA checks on application.</td><td>A test environment validates each component of application under test.</td></tr><tr><td>It replicates all requirements and configurations of the production environment.</td><td>It is dynamic and requires specific configurations to test each component.</td></tr><tr><td>It validates the complete application.&nbsp;</td><td>It tests the Individual components or functions.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



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<h2 id="dscsk"><span id="Summary"><strong>Summary</strong></span></h2>
<p>Both testing and staging environments play a critical role in ensuring the application performs as expected in real-life scenarios. On the one hand, the testing environment ensures each application component performs its job well. On the other hand, the staging environment ensures the application&#8217;s features work well with everything connected around it.</p>
<h2 id="6fsjh"><span id="Frequently_Asked_Questions"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions</strong></span></h2>
<h3 id="7s9is"><span id="What_is_the_difference_between_staging_and_QA">What is the difference between staging and QA?</span></h3>
<p>The significant differences between staging and QA are found in the scale of the test as well as the agenda of finding bugs. The staging environment replicates the requirements and configurations of the production environment, whereas the testing environment validates a particular part of the product.</p>
<h3 id="3s9sj"><span id="What_comes_first_UAT_or_staging">What comes first, UAT or staging?</span></h3>
<p>UAT comes first in a software development life cycle, followed by staging.</p>
<h3 id="dn7nj"><span id="What_are_the_different_types_of_testing_environments">What are the different types of testing environments?</span></h3>
<ul>
<li>The Dev environment &#8211; This is where apps are deployed and unit tested by the Dev team.</li>
<li>Test/<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/qa-environment/">QA Environment</a> &#8211; In this environment, the versioned QA builds are deployed, followed by testers executing the tests and reporting test results to the Dev team.</li>
<li>Staging Environment &#8211; It validates the application approaching the production stage to ensure the app will perform well post-deployment.</li>
<li>Production Environment &#8211; This is a live environment where real users use the app.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="9gqqh"><span id="How_many_environments_are_there_in_QA">How many environments are there in QA?</span></h3>
<p>There are four QA environments: the Development environment, Test environment, Staging environment, and Production environment.</p>
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