Software Testing is an important part of software development lifecycle. Testing can essentially be bifurcated into functional and non-functional types. As a fact of the matter, compatibility testing is one such non-functional type of testing. It can only be performed when the application is stable – neither in staging, nor in production. This is to check if all the modules in the application can run on their own, and produce the desired outcomes.

“We must always discern that test cases are the benchmarks that identify any discrepancies against the application design. It includes the wireframes, prototypes, and mock-ups, flow diagrams, uniform resource locator diagrams, and any raw identifiable data.”, stated Bahaa Al Zubaidi.

What is a compatibility test?

It is a kind of an assessment to ensure if the application is running properly within the browser, operating system, mobile network, mobile device, desktop computer, external hard disk, etc.

How is compatibility testing done?

It can be of two types – to check forward compatibility and to check backward compatibility. It particularly identifies if your software is capable to run on different hardware, operating systems, web browsers, and mobile browsers.

It is a validation technique that helps in getting a competitive advantage over other business applications. If they are offering support on two platforms, we will offer it on five. This will make it usable across a wider audience and thus help us gaining a competitive advantage.

What is compatibility testing?

It implies testing the software or application on latest versions of software. This makes it adaptable by various platforms in time. Any application that fails to comply becomes unusable. Applications can be backward compatible or forward compatible. For example: If a piece of software has to be integrated with legacy software or enterprise application, then it is called as backward compatibility.

Alternatively, if an application needs to be future ready, and complies with

(1) upcoming versions of software,

(2) wearable devices,

(3) AI enabled devices,

(4) Internet of things interconnected devices,

(5) virtual reality,

(6) augmented reality compatible devices – then it is called as forward compatibility.

This concept is not new, and every since software testing has evolved, development teams have been checking the compatibility issues to make it work across platforms, operating systems, environments, devices etc.

When an organization is at the verge of accomplishing more – foraying into unchartered territories, with upcoming processes, innovations, new interfaces, new way of doing things –  then their existing software systems must have to be future ready. The applications need to be responsive to be able to run across devices of all sizes, in the way customer wants.

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