Compatibility test

A compatibility test is an assessment used to assure a software application is accurate working across various browsers, databases, operating systems (OS), mobile devices, networks and hardware. Compatibility testing is a form of non-functional software testing — meaning it tests action such as usability, reliability and performance — that is used to provide accurate applications and customer fulfillment. Compatibility tests are essential to the successful performance of applications. They should be accomplished whenever a build becomes balanced adequate to experience testing.

Types of compatibility tests

There are two main types of compatibility tests: backwards compatibility testing and forward compatibility testing.

Backward compatibility testing, also called as downward compatibility, is the testing of older versions of the application or software to authenticate its outstanding work with advanced hardware/software. Backward compatibility tests are essential because some users may move the application on old devices. Backward compatibility testing can be used to establish new builds can still run on old devices or operating systems.

Forward compatibility testing is the judgment of an application or software in upcoming or new variant of hardware/software to authenticate the achievement of the current hardware/software with the newer build.

These two types of compatibility examination will also include a few, more exact kind of testing. These categories are:

• Version testing – Assure the software application is appropriate with various form of the software.
• Browser testing – Also known as cross-browser testing, this judgment assure the software application achieve accordingly across various browsers — such as Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Internet Explorer — as well as from side to side browsers on different devices — such as laptops, iPhones, Androids and tablets.
• Hardware testing – check the achievement of the software application with different hardware configurations.
• Software testing – Tests the advanced software application to establish its strong performance with other software. This consists of scenarios such as a Microsoft Word application’s compatibility with Microsoft Outlook or Excel and vice versa.
• Network testing – check the performance of the software application in various networks, such as 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi.
• Device testing – Assure appropriate performance of the software application with various devices, such as USB port devices, printers, scanners and Bluetooth.
• Mobile testing – Ensure if the software application complete with various mobile devices and their various platforms, including iOS and Android OS.
• OS testing – Verify the software application achieve accordingly with various operating systems, such as Linux, Mac and Windows.

How compatibility tests work

Before start a compatibility test, the set of environments or platforms the application is normal to work on should be specific. A test plan should be developed to complete the most essential concern faced by the application so preference can be given to these tests and less essential ones can be set aside. Depending on the product that is calculated for testing, environments must be set up to reproduce the end user’s experience — such as desktops, smart phones, laptops and tablets — to assure the results of the test parallel what a user would detect.

It is critical that the tester has acceptable knowledge of the assorted software, hardware and platforms that are tested to know what the expected behavior is with the different configurations. Once the appropriate environments are set up, the different categories of tests can be run. All bugs that are found should be announced so defects can be fixed. Re-tests should then be run to assure all defects have been strongly resolved.

Importance of compatibility tests

Compatibility tests are crucial because they confirm the successful performance of a software application across all platforms, establish every customer will have a specific experience no matter what environment they use.

Defects can extremely block an end user’s experience due to difference between areas like various software versions, internet speeds, configuration and resolution. Therefore, it is needed to assess the application in all possible ways to lower the risk of any failures and possible difficulty for exposure an application with bugs.

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