Cross-browser testing your site

Testing your WooCommerce website across multiple browsers is essential to ensure a seamless shopping experience for your users, regardless of their preferred device, browser or location. 

By conducting cross-browser testing, you can identify and resolve compatibility issues that may affect the functionality, appearance, or usability of your site.

Note: This document is meant to serve as a helpful guide for advanced troubleshooting; however, the procedures described are beyond the scope of our support policy and we cannot provide direct assistance with implementing them. 

If you would like to seek assistance from a qualified WordPress/WooCommerce Developer, we highly recommend Codeable, or a Certified WooExpert. 

Cross-browser testing is important because it ensures your website works well for all users, no matter which browser or device they use. Different browsers interpret code in unique ways, which can lead to inconsistencies in how your site looks and functions. 

By testing across multiple browsers, you can catch and fix issues early, providing a smooth, reliable experience for everyone. This helps build trust with users, reduces technical support needs, and supports your store’s overall performance and success.

Tools are available to help you test your site across browsers:

• BrowserStack
• LambdaTest
• SauceLabs

They will allow you to test your site on different browsers and devices, including mobile devices. They also enable you to test from different locations to see what visitors from other countries are experiencing.

Please note that these are third-party resources, and our Happiness Engineers are not able to support issues with the use of these tools. If you have any questions, please reach out to the third-party provider directly.

Your hosting provider might also offer or recommend a tool for performing cross-browser testing on your WooCommerce site.

Inspecting individual page elements on your WooCommerce site can help with testing your site and enhance your understanding of how various parts of your website function and interact. 

Here’s how to do it in the most common web browsers:

Google Chrome

1. Right-Click and Inspect: Navigate to the page you want to examine. Right-click on the element you wish to inspect, and select “Inspect” from the context menu. This opens the Developer Tools pane and highlights the selected element in the HTML structure.
2. Use the Elements Tab: The Elements tab displays the HTML structure of the page. Hovering over different parts of the HTML code in the Developer Tools will highlight these sections on the webpage, helping you pinpoint exact elements.
3. Modify Styles: In the Styles pane on the right, you can see and edit the CSS applied to the selected element. Changes are reflected in real-time on the webpage.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Right-Click and Inspect Element: Similar to Chrome, right-click on the part of the page you are interested in. Choose “Inspect Element” from the context menu.
2. Examine and Edit HTML and CSS: The Inspector tool will open, showing the HTML and CSS of your page. You can edit the HTML or CSS directly in the Inspector to see immediate changes.

Microsoft Edge

1. Right-Click to Inspect: Right-click on the element, then select “Inspect” to open the Developer Tools.
2. Navigate the DOM: Use the DOM (Document Object Model) tree in the Elements tab to view and interact with the structure of your webpage. Modifications to CSS can be made in the Styles pane, which will update the page dynamically as you type.

Safari

1. Enable Developer Menu: First, enable the Developer menu from Safari’s preferences under the Advanced tab by checking the “Show Develop menu in menu bar” box.
2. Inspect Elements: With the Develop menu enabled, you can right-click on the webpage. Select “Inspect Element”, or use the Develop menu at the top of the screen and select “Show Web Inspector”.

When you are inspecting individual elements, you can also use another plugin such as String Locator to determine which theme or plugin file provides the element you’re looking at.

Do you still have questions and need assistance? 

• Get in touch with a Happiness Engineer via our Help Desk. We provide support for extensions developed by and/or sold on WooCommerce.com, and Jetpack/WordPress.com customers.
• If you are not a customer, we recommend finding help on the WooCommerce Support Forum or hiring a WooExpert agency. They are trusted agencies with a proven track record of building highly customized, scalable online stores. Learn more about WooExpert agencies.