Just how good can a website be without it being QA (Quality Assurance) tested? Before we dig deeper, let’s take a glance at the QA process.
The QA process
This is a series of procedures wont to ensure that your new website has been expertly crafted to a high standard.
And by high we mean excellent. it's a process that stands aside from the event and style processes, whilst being even as important.
When your web designer applies the QA process, he is going to be ensuring that there are not any bugs present whilst simultaneously gazing at the standard of the user experience (UX) and interface (UI).
If you're thinking that about the numerous different components that form up your website, you may see that the QA process must be exhaustive.
Whilst it's not physically possible to test every single variable that produces up the method of development, the QA will go a protracted way towards doing so.
Of course, there'll be variables that impact the website that the QA cannot get into, like the quality of internet connections, browsers, and variations created thanks to screen sizes. However, you'll be able to be assured that any good QA process will take a look at the website in a very comprehensive way, ensuring that it functions at an optimum level.
QAs vary per the complexity of the website. If your site may be a simple one, the method won't take as long. Large custom-built sites with e-commerce or other advanced elements may even take several days to complete.
How to conduct a QA
So now that you just know what a QA is, how does one conduct one? we've put together the final word guide to website QA that may make sure you miss nothing out. If your website designer is doing this for you, then you'll use this guide to speak with him during the method, knowing that everything is being taken care of because it should be.
Design
Design testing comes first. this can be when the website design ideas are checked against the staged site plan that the client has approved. Each element must be present and have complete adherence to the specification.
Things that fall under this category are color schemes, spacing, font style, and spacing.
Navigation
User flow (navigation) is reviewed during the wireframe stage of building your website. The wireframe is that the website layout that shows what interface elements will figure on certain pages.
This is the time when site navigation and user accessibility have to be reviewed. The user must be able to navigate easily and quickly, arriving at their chosen place on the positioning without a hitch.
Content
As the saying goes, ‘content is king’ and this is often very apt when it involves QA. Your content must be of fine quality, informative, interesting, and well-structured.
The site has to be completely overhauled and things like spelling, grammar, and filler text checked. Background, text colors, and texts mustn't make the content difficult to read.
Content also covers images.
High-resolution is an absolute must.
Images should even be web optimized to create sure they don’t abate page loading speeds.
Link Validation
Hyperlinks shown on the location must work.
There is nothing worse than a viewer clicking on a link and finding that they find themselves going nowhere, or to the incorrect place.
Links need to be present and researching to the proper document or online page.
Hyperlinks could also be found within the text, graphics, images, logos, buttons, and even social media icons.
Forms/Input Validation
Plenty of websites use forms to gather data from viewers.
If your website is one of these, it's essential to test each input field within the form as shown.
Whether the shape is getting used so users can make contact, founded a brand new account, log in, or complete a questionnaire, all fields must move.
This includes fields that are optional or essentially required.
Of course, it's pointless collecting the knowledge on the forms if you're not receiving it.
This is when checks are made to make certain that completed forms are being delivered to the right email address in order that they will be forbidden promptly.
Interoperability
Nowadays of avid mobile use, your website has to be functional and responsive, being viewed correctly on all mobile devices.
The best way of testing this can be to make an inventory of the foremost popular mobile phones then test interoperability on everyone, moreover as laptops and desktops of varying sizes.
The use of various browsers also falls within this category, so it's essential to check all of the key ones like Google Chrome, Safari, etc.
Browsers and mobiles change over time so this list will have to be updated regularly. it's also essential to seem out for the following:
-Unwanted pop-ups
-Email addresses and number links being operational
-Buttons/icons are of the correct size for even large fingers
-Site navigation is evident and user-friendly
-The content layout has been fully optimized
-Site performance isn't hampered by the employment of various devices or screen sizes
Custom Functionality
Where your website build has involved the creation of custom functionality, each item must be tested.
This will make sure that when viewers use the location, there'll not be any hiccups.
Items that fall within this category include payment transactions, making a booking, creating new accounts, etc. Nothing will be left to chance.
e-commerce
Obviously, the QA process is much more committed to e-commerce sites. Testing will vary consistent with the complexity of the location but most times will involve:
-Ensuring product pages are complete with full content and nil errors
-The go-cart works because it should, allowing users to vary the amount and edit the contents
-Discount codes are accepted and deducted from the entire
-Products aren't duplicated
-Filters work as they must
-Where currency converters are used, they work correctly
-Postage charged are calculated correctly in line with location or cost of products
-Where postage is free above a particular level, this is often accounted for
-Emails are sent once an order is placed
-The payment gateway process has to be fully tested and this may be done by making a dummy purchase. Options may include PayPal, credit cards, debit cards, etc.
Search functionality across products will be checked. this is often essential as when a buyer is seeking a specific product, they have to be able to find it easily.
SEO
Search engine optimization is that the final check.
Google Analytics must be working correctly.
The sitemap also has to are added to Webmaster Tools so Google can locate and index the pages.
Display on mobile devices is going to be checked out, ensuring that it scores highly with Google.
Meta tags must be optimized for any keywords so this can be a necessary part of the SEO QA process.
The loading speed also has to be acceptable by Google if the ranking isn't to be affected.
This must be fast on all devices, including mobiles. Finally, the website has to be examined for syntax errors, ensuring that it's compatible with all search engines.
As may be seen, the QA process is deliberately detailed. this can be the sole way that a website can accurately be tested to make sure that it works well. Any design flaws, bugs, or errors need to be eradicated if the positioning is to figure hard and convert because it should.
because the site grows or changes are made, it'll have to be continually monitored to confirm that quality standards are maintained.
