Testing: Vital to the Success of Your Site

Testing is critical to the success of your web site. Don't underestimate its importance. Regrettably testing is often left to the last: the end of the production schedule when all too often there is no time left, and the end of the budget when it's often all gone, making the testing a shoestring operation.

It is a mistake to launch a site and publicize it without this step. There are always imperfections, some more glaring than others. The best strategy is to test while you build the site. Initial assumptions as to the usability of the interface design can be validated before major expenditures of time and money are made.

There are innumerable variables that must be addressed. Decisions need to be made as to how many and which software and hardware combinations your site must operate successfully on.

The guru of web site usability, Jakob Nielsen, said that only 5 testers are needed to locate most of problems.

Testing Variables

Browsers behave differently and at times unpredictably, based on variables such as:

• Browser type:
  • Netscape Navigator
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
• Browser Version Number. Among the more widely used ones are:
  • Netscape version, 3,4, 4.7, 6
  • Internet Explorer versions : 3, 4, 5, 5.5
• Platform:
  • PC
  • Mac
  • UNIX
• Size of the browser window: viewers can change it easily to an wide range of sizes.
• Resolution setting of the monitor
• Size of the monitor (14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21)
• Text size setting of the browser
  • Users can set their browser text sizes as they wish.
  • By default, PC browsers' text is set to a much larger size than older Macs.
• Gamma: the inherent contrast difference between PCs and Macs
• Color:
  • 24 bit, 16 bit, 8 bit color displays
  • Are "web-safe" colors needed?
  • Dithering and banding

© 2004 Dan Vaughan