What is Software Compatibility?
Before getting into software compatibility, we need to understand compatibility.
In generic terms, compatibility is better understanding or acceptance between two persons. Software compatibility is the best performance of any application/product on different browsers, operating systems, devices, etc.
Software compatibility describes how an application/product must behave across all platforms or devices.
Why Go for Software Compatibility Testing?
Usually, dev/test teams concentrate on developing/testing the application on a single platform. However, once the application is released to production/End users, customers may test the product on different platforms and figure out bugs in the application that could be more acceptable in terms of quality.
In general, there are various testing activities throughout the software development lifecycle. None of those tests determine product compatibility; hence, compatibility testing has become mandatory to ensure the application or product is compatible with commonly available operating systems and internet browsers.
What is the Purpose of Software Compatibility?
This is a non-functional testing technique. Test results may vary based on various factors like resolution, internet speed, OS versions, etc. But compatibility testing is critical because people started using ‘n’ number of devices (mobile, laptop, Mac book, tab, etc.).
When any provider thinks of releasing any mobile application or web application into the market, before it gets developed, he must check the market’s pulse and ensure his product will be compatible with all OR most of the devices available in the market. Based on the vast range of customer’s choices, the provider must make his product available everywhere.
To avoid upset customers and reduce compatibility issues with the product, it is essential to conduct compatibility testing to check whether the application works the same way on all platforms.
How Many Types of Compatibility Tests Are There?
We must mainly discuss two important compatibility test types: Backward and Forward.
Backward Compatibility – Testing the software or application on the older/previous versions to ensure they are compatible with newer ones.
Forward Compatibility – Testing the software or application on the newer/latest versions to ensure they are compatible with older versions.
Within these two types of tests, there are more specific test categories.
Version testing – To verify compatibility with different versions of the software and browsers.
Browser testing – To verify the compatibility across different browsers like IE, Chrome, Firefox, etc., and browsers on other devices like laptops, mobile, tablets, etc.
Hardware testing– Verify compatibility with various hardware configurations.
Software testing– Verify compatibility with other software versions.
How Do We Perform Compatibility Testing?
1. Browser compatibility testing
- Test the application on different versions of the browser. Test on one browser (Ex, IE) and other versions (of IE).
- For example, to test the compatibility of the site eBay.com, download different versions of IE, install them one by one, and test the eBay site. eBay should behave the same way in each version.
- Test the application on different browsers. We need to test the application on all available browsers.
- For example, the eBay.com site can be tested using different browsers like Firefox, Safari, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Opera, etc.
This test must be done not only on different versions of Internet Explorer but also on different versions of Firefox, Chrome, MS Edge, etc.
2) Mobile compatibility testing
- Test the mobile application on one mobile device with different versions of the operating system.
- For example, to test the compatibility of the Amazon application on Samsung devices with Android OS, download different versions of Android OS one after the other, install the Amazon application, and test the compatibility. Amazon should behave the same in each version.
- Test the mobile application on different devices.
- For example, install the Amazon application on all devices like Asus, Samsung, iPhone, Redmi, etc, and test its compatibility. Amazon should behave the same in each version.
This test must be done on Android OSes and different versions of iPhone OS, etc.
3) Hardware Compatibility testing
We need to set testing environments with different hardware configurations and monitor application/product behavior in each.
4) Network Compatibility testing
We need to check the application/product behavior on Wi-Fi and Mobile data networks like 4G, 5G, etc. It helps to identify the bandwidth and speed of the application function.
5) Device Compatibility testing
Customers choose to use any device, so our application/product must be quality-checked on all devices. So, we must test our application/product on laptops, Mac books, mobile tabs, monitors, etc.
6) Software Compatibility testing
We need to look at how healthy the application/product behaves and responds while communicating with other software.
- For example, if the application allows the user to download a file in PDF format, that downloaded file should open in Adobe Acrobat. Similarly, if the application has an exportable grid view, the exportable view should open in Microsoft Excel.
7) Operating system compatibility testing
The application has to be tested by running it on different operating systems. For example, suppose any mobile application is being tested. In that case, it must be tested on Android and iOS to ensure the application responds the same way in both operating systems. Any website must run on Windows, macOS, Linux, etc.
Are there Any Supportive Tools for Compatibility Testing?
The recommended tools to be used for compatibility testing are as follows:
Browser Stack is a widely used test simulator because it supports the Selenium tool. It also supports more than 2000 operating systems and web browsers to perform thorough testing. This simulator is widely used for mobile app testing with various Android and iOS versions.
This tool supports over 200 web browsers and operating systems. This is one of the best options for QA enthusiasts. It offers a variety of testing types, including automated, live, and visual testing.
GhostLab
This tool is more feasible for testing a website across various platforms. It is distinctive because it can connect to multiple browsers and mobile devices to test one application.
Cloud-based platforms are used to test web and mobile applications. This tool offers instant access to QA experts to many browser-OS combinations, mobile emulators, simulators, and real devices. It supports Google Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox on Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS, and Android.
Conclusion
Software compatibility testing is essential in the development lifecycle to guarantee that applications function consistently across diverse platforms and devices. By identifying and addressing compatibility issues early, businesses can enhance product quality, reduce customer frustration, and improve overall user satisfaction. As technology evolves, investing in robust compatibility testing processes and tools like Browser Stack or LambdaTest will help ensure that your software remains accessible and reliable, no matter the platform.
Software Compatibility Testing Services with XTIVIA TCOE
For comprehensive testing help and solutions, visit XTIVIA’s Testing Center of Excellence webpage, where our team delivers end-to-end software testing services tailored to your needs.
For questions, please contact us!