5 Ways a Web Designer Tests a Website Before Making it Live

Last Updated: 

October 1, 2024

Imagine you are designing a website with all the important features. Finally, it’s time to make your website live. As soon as you open it, your website appears to have poor user interface, broken layout, and slow-loading pages that takes forever to fix. To fix such issues, a professional web designer ensures that the website meets performance, functionality, and user experience standards through the testing processes. 

Testing helps to uncover potential issues and makes the site run smoothly across different platforms and devices. In this blog, we’ll explore five key ways a web designer in Sydney tests a website before finalising it to make your experience in professional web design meaningful. 

Key Takeaways on How a Web Designer Tests a Website

  1. Cross-browser compatibility is crucial: Web designers ensure a website functions properly across different browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge by testing layouts, CSS, and JavaScript to avoid display issues.
  2. Mobile responsiveness is essential: Designers test how well a website adapts to different screen sizes and devices, ensuring a seamless experience on smartphones and tablets without compromising on usability or navigation.
  3. Speed optimisation impacts user retention: Websites that load too slowly can drive users away, so performance testing helps optimise image sizes, reduce server requests, and address code inefficiencies.
  4. User experience testing prevents frustration: Ensuring users can easily navigate, read content, and interact with forms or buttons is a priority, improving user satisfaction and reducing bounce rates.
  5. Security testing is critical for trust: Ensuring that websites are protected against common vulnerabilities like XSS and SQL injection builds user trust, especially in e-commerce or data-sensitive industries.
  6. Testing with real users refines usability: User feedback during UX testing helps improve design elements, ensuring visitors can accomplish tasks smoothly, from browsing to completing purchases.
  7. Comprehensive testing boosts business goals: Through testing, websites are optimised for performance, accessibility, and security, helping businesses meet goals like higher conversions and user satisfaction.
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1. Cross-Browser Testing

One of the most important tests web designers perform is cross-browser testing. Not all users access websites through the same browser, and each browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc.) may render websites differently. A design that looks flawless on one browser could appear broken on another if not properly tested.

In cross-browser testing, a designer checks how the website behaves across various browsers and browser versions. This process includes testing CSS styles, layouts, and JavaScript functionality to ensure consistency in appearance and performance. In Sydney, where internet users may be tech-savvy and diverse in their browser preferences, searching for a professional web design is crucial to maintain a smooth user experience.

2. Mobile Responsiveness Testing

With mobile internet usage surpassing desktop in many cases, ensuring that a website is mobile-responsive is essential. Mobile responsiveness means that the website adapts to different screen sizes and orientations, providing an optimal viewing experience on smartphones and tablets.

A web designer must test the website on a variety of mobile devices and screen resolutions to confirm that the layout, images, navigation, and content scale correctly. Key things to look for include:

  • Text readability without excessive zooming.
  • Correctly sized buttons for touchscreens.
  • Proper alignment of images, videos, and interactive elements.
  • Smooth functionality of menus and forms.

3. Performance and Load Speed Testing

Speed is a crucial factor in user experience, as websites that take too long to load can lead to high bounce rates. Users tend to abandon websites that take more than three seconds to load, which is especially relevant in fast-paced cities like Sydney.

Performance testing in web design helps ensure that the website is optimised for speed and efficiency. This includes assessing the loading time of each page, the size of images, and the number of requests made to the server. A web designer may also test for render-blocking issues, such as excessive JavaScript or CSS that delays the visual display of a page.

4. User Experience (UX) Testing

Testing a website’s user experience (UX) involves understanding how users interact with the site. A good UX ensures that visitors can easily find information, navigate through pages, and complete tasks like making a purchase or filling out a form without confusion or frustration.

A professional web design involves usability tests with real users. Designers may also use online tools to track user interactions. Key areas to test include:

  • Can users find what they’re looking for without effort?
  • Is the text easy to read? Does the colour scheme and font size support easy navigation?
  • Are forms, buttons, and other clickable elements easy to use?

In Sydney's competitive digital landscape, a poor user experience can deter visitors, so comprehensive UX testing is crucial for the site’s success.

5. Security Testing

Cybersecurity is a growing concern for businesses and consumers alike. A professional web design involves testing websites for potential vulnerabilities that could compromise user data or the site itself. While much of security involves back-end development, front-end web design also plays a role in preventing malicious attacks.

Key areas to test:

  • Ensuring the site uses HTTPS to encrypt data transfers and instil trust among users.
  • Preventing vulnerabilities like cross-site scripting (XSS) or SQL injection by properly validating form inputs. 
  • Testing web application firewalls (WAF) to protect against attacks.

With Sydney businesses increasingly reliant on e-commerce and online services, robust security testing is vital for protecting both the website and users who want a reliable web design. 

Final Words

Testing is a critical part of the web design process, ensuring that a website is functional, responsive, secure, and provides a smooth user experience. By focusing on cross-browser compatibility, mobile responsiveness, performance, UX, and security, web designers in Sydney can deliver high-quality websites that perform well and stand out in a competitive digital landscape. 

These testing practices help ensure that when the site goes live, it meets user expectations and helps achieve the business’s goals, ultimately improving user satisfaction and conversion rates. Choose a professional web design today to learn more about their comprehensive web designing processes. 

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