Topic: Checklist for testing Web Applications

Part B:
1. Validation
    1. Validate the HTML
    2. Validate the CSS
    3. Check for broken links
2. Flexibility
    1. Try varying window sizes
    2. Try varying font sizes
3. Speed
    1. Access the site via a modem
    2. Check image size specifications
4. Accessibility
    1. Test accessibility
    2. View in text browser
5. Browser independence
    1. Try different browsers
    2. Check printed pages
    3. Switch Javascript off
    4. Switch plug-ins off
    5. Switch images off
6. Other checks
    1. Check non-reliance on mailto
    2. Check no orphan pages
    3. Check sensible page titles

Below are some very basic Web Site Usability rules for newbies:

1. Is the Web site easy-to-use and useful?

2. The most important thing you can do with your Web site is to make it easy to use and useful. Do not distract users; they may not care about your cool technology as much as you do.

3. Does your Web site use a consistent layout on every page?

4. Page links to check: Make sure links to each page of the web site is working and link among the pages are working fine.

5. The relevance of inspection: Add and delete items from a dynamic web site and make sure this does not impact the other items present in the web page.

6. To check the function of the button is correct: If the update, cancel, delete, save and other functions are correct or not.

7. String length check: Put excess of characters a input box should support and make sure it is not taking that. Also make sure if the requirement is 256 characters then it is at least taking 256 characters.

8. With a consistent layout, visitors do not need to keep re-orienting themselves as they move from page to page.

9. Does your home page clearly identify the Web site's purpose?

10. Do not waste a visitor's time by not communicating the purpose of the Web site on the home page.

11. Does your Web site use familiar names and terms?

12. Character type checking: If special character is not allowed then give some special character, negative values and make sure proper error message has been thrown by the system.

13. Punctuation check: Make sure punctuation, space, enter key in the input field not giving any error (unit unless specified they are not allowed)

14. To deal with the Other language characters: If other languages are supported in the input box check whether the system can accept them and they are not garbled.

15. Check out the integrity of information: Update the information through web and then recall that information through search to make sure it is updated property in the back end database.

16. Check to retrieve the information if the names or IDs are case sensitive.

17. Check the deletion function: Delete something and try to retrieve that information. Make sure proper error message is thrown by the system.

18. Acronyms and jargon should not appear on Web pages without definitions or explanations.

19. Does your Web site handle acronyms and abbreviations properly?

20. Do not assume that users understand your abbreviations or acronyms. When using acronyms or abbreviations, you should explain the first occurrence on a page. Subsequent instances should use either the <acronym> or <abbr> tag.

21. Is the department's or customer's logo located in the header or banner of every page?

22. Submit the form multiple times: Fill up a form, submit it and then press browser back button. Try to resubmit the form. See how system behaves.

23. Search examination: Search function is one of the most important function to test. Check search for an item which exists. Check with invalid search criteria and see the error messages.

24. Tab location change: Check the tab location change is proper or not for a particular page.

25. From Download File Checker: Upload a proper file within the size limit and accepted format. Also check with large file, improper file format.

26. Required field validation: Omit some of the required fields and make sure system gives proper error messages.

27. Shortcut keys to check: whether to support the commonly used shortcut keys such as Ctrl + C Ctrl + V Backspace and so on

28. ENTER key to check: In the input directly after the ENTER key to see how the system reacts, whether throws some error.

29. Consistent use of logos helps establish a brand identity and a uniform "look and feel" for your Web site.

30. Does your site use consistent navigation?

31. Users will try to anticipate the location of certain items on your Web site. Make sure the navigation is easy to find and use so that visitors can easily get around your Web site. This is particularly important for visitors who use a screen reader.

32. Does your Web site reasonably limit the number of navigation items in a single group?

33. In general, the maximum recommended number of navigation items is nine.

34. Do all pages on the Web site contain navigational options?

35. Avoid orphaned pages, unless presented in a secondary pop-up browser window.

36. Does your Web site require horizontal scrolling?

37. Visitors can become easily annoyed with horizontal scrolling.

38. Is your Web site printer friendly?

39. It may need a different cascading style sheet (CSS) for printing.

40. Do your pages resize correctly?

41. Use relative sizes in your CSS. Use percentages to specify table widths. Use percentages, em, or the terms larger, smaller, etc. for font sizing.

42. Does your Web site display unnecessary windows or graphics?

43. These include windows or graphics that pop-up or pop-under.

44. Do your pages have a consistently quick download?

45. In general, a page should load in less than 10 seconds.

46. Does your Web site contain links to any necessary plug-ins?