Comprehensive Guide to Testing a Static Website

Comprehensive Guide to Testing a Static Website

16 July 2024 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment QA

Testing a static website may seem straightforward, but there are several critical aspects to consider to ensure its robustness and usability. This guide provides a structured approach to testing a static website, covering various areas such as appearance, integration, security, performance, SEO, and more.

Look & Feel

  • Test for appearance across different browsers (IE, Chrome, Firefox, Safari) and devices (desktop, mobile).
  • Check for accessibility to ensure the site is usable for people with impaired vision (fonts, colors, contrast).
  • Ensure the layout is responsive and user-friendly on mobile devices and touchpads.
  • Verify the presence and correctness of the favicon.
  • Check error pages to ensure they are styled consistently with the rest of the site.
  • For forms, verify the order of field focus when navigating with the TAB key.

Integration with Third-Party Services

  • Check social media integration, such as “Share” buttons.
  • Verify the functionality of donation services if integrated.
  • Ensure proper integration with site analytics tools like Google Analytics.

Security Testing

  • For forms, check input limitations to prevent vulnerabilities.
  • Refer to the OWASP Top Ten Project for common security vulnerabilities.
  • Simulate negative cases by sending various requests to test server responses.

Performance Testing

  • Test the site under non-regular load conditions to ensure it can handle increased traffic.
  • Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to analyze and improve performance.

SEO

  • Check for the presence of a robots.txt file to control search engine indexing.
  • Ensure the site has a properly structured sitemap.xml.

Additional Checks

  • Verify that all page resources load correctly without errors.
  • Ensure there are no JavaScript errors in the console across different browsers.
  • Check the use of cookies for user sessions and site analytics.

Accessibility

  • Run the site through accessibility checkers to ensure it is usable for a wide audience.
  • Verify compatibility with screen readers and keyboard navigation.

Practical Example

Suppose you are testing a website for an NGO focused on children’s welfare. Here are some additional considerations:

  • Ensure the site clearly communicates how to support the NGO, including donation options.
  • Verify the presence of information about the NGO’s past performance and achievements.
  • Check for contact options, including anonymous reporting for sensitive issues.
  • Confirm that the site specifies the geographical area of operation.

Conclusion

By following these guidelines, you can ensure a comprehensive and effective testing process for a static website. While manual testing is essential, leveraging automated tools can significantly enhance efficiency and accuracy.

For example, Repeato, a no-code test automation tool for iOS and Android, can help streamline the testing process. Repeato uses computer vision and AI to create, run, and maintain automated tests quickly and efficiently. This makes it an excellent choice for ensuring the quality of your applications with minimal setup and effort.

For more detailed information on various testing strategies and tools, feel free to explore our blog and documentation.

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