It’s no secret that building a website or web application takes time. In fact, it can take months to get everything just right as you work through the discovery, design and development, and modification processes.

With so much riding on the final product, going live can be somewhat nerve-wracking — but it doesn’t have to be.

You could hit “publish” then close your eyes and cross your fingers that everything works according to plan. But why not take the time to perform some valuable web testing beforehand?

Now, there are more tools than ever before that can make the web development journey as easy as possible. Using these can ease your mind and restore your sanity as you round that last lap of finalization.

Today, we’re taking a look at some of the top tools created just for this purpose.

Ready to learn more? Let’s dive in!

1. Apache JMeter

Apache JMeter is a 100% pure Java application. It helps developers gauge the functional behavior and full-scale performance of their web applications.

First, you’ll build your web testing plan within the application. Then, you can run a load test on both static and dynamic resources.

You can adjust the test to replicate a heavy load on a server, server group, object, or network. Then, you can analyze the results to determine how each resource performs under those conditions.

When you’re finished, a presentation-ready HTML report summarizes the findings.

2. Sahi

Sahi is an open-source automation tool that lets developers create scripts to mimic human web testing functions.

Wondering how your application will look and perform across myriad browsers or operating systems? Your automated testing function can perform this process for you and report any failures.

The software also eliminates the need for manual checking of web features. Whether you’re creating a new site or releasing an update on an existing one, this step can be time-consuming.

Sahi allows you to automate work flows and test for functionality using its Recorder tool. This allows you to capture actions and review playback across different environments.

3. Selenium

Like Sahi, Selenium is a set of open-source software tools that automate functions for web testing purposes.

In addition to record and playback functionality, it also allows users to use its domain-specific language, known as Selenese, to write tests in many of the top programming languages, from C# to Scala. These tests can then be performed against most web browsers.

The full suite of products includes:

• Selenium 2/Webdriver: An object-oriented Application Programming Interface (API)
• Selenium 1/Remote Control: Original project used primarily in maintenance mode since Selenium 2’s debut
• Selenium Integrated Development Environment (IDE): Prototyping function for creating automated testing scripts
• Selenium-Grid: Scales Selenium to fit larger, multi-environment testing suites

4. Watir

Standing for Web Application Testing in Ruby, Watir is an open-source Ruby library that validates web performance by automatically replicating human functions.

From link pressing to online form completion, there are likely many ways users can interact with your site. Watir makes sure the process is intuitive and user-friendly.

Powered by Selenium, it provides many of the same features, delivered in three basic projects including Watir-Classic, Watir-WebDriver, and WatirSpec.

Rather than simulating a browser, as most web testing tools do, Watir runs it through Ruby’s built-in Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) protocol.

While the classic mode only supports Internet Explorer on Windows, WebDriver supports most browsers in addition to headless mode.

5. eggPlant Functional

Users will operate your site primarily by looking at it, so shouldn’t your web testing tool mimic the same interaction?

Another automated testing tool, where eggPlant Functional differentiates itself is in its proprietary Graphical User Interface (GUI) testing technique that uses images to assess a site’s functionality.

Its advanced analysis tool uses image recognition algorithms to test a site’s user interface. Once it knows the test you want to complete (e.g. “Click the ‘next’ button”), it scans the page for the image of that button, then creates a new event to test its functionality.

In this way, eggPlant Functional allows testers to create intuitive tests that can be performed on any platform, from C++ to HTML. You can also create tests on any device, including mobile, desktop, or mainframe machines, to truly re-create the user experience from any angle.

6. TestComplete

TestComplete helps developers create automated tests to check for usability across multiple functions. From logging in and out to searching virtual catalogs, you can create functional tests that check the performance of it all.

You can also set designated checkpoints within the web testing process to make sure data is correct, links are valid, and the page itself is properly structured.

Once you record a test in one browser, TestComplete’s multi-browser capability allows you to play it back in another browser, eliminating the need to create more than one test.

Its technology-agnostic GUI allows users to test applications regardless of the technology (ASP, PHP, CGI, etc.) used to create them.

7. Progress Test Studio

No proprietary testing languages here. Test Studio lets developers use any programming language they prefer, boosting flexibility and saving time.

Whether you’re testing a web, mobile, or desktop application, the intuitive point-and-click recorder allows you to set up automated tests in no time — without adding code.

One of the ways Test Studio shines is in its built-in tools that facilitate Quality Assurance (QA) and developer collaboration.

Its Element Explorer lets users test, store, and reference test elements from a central repository. It also integrates seamlessly with source control systems, so everyone is always on the same page.

After Web Testing: Taking the Next Step with SEO

Getting your site up and running is only the first step. From there, you’ll need to optimize your space to make sure it’s as visible to your audience as possible.

That’s where we come in.

From Search Engine Optimization (SEO) services to integrating e-commerce functionality, we’ll help you make the most of your corner of the Internet.

Sign up for some of our free tools today or research our professional SEO management services to learn how we can boost your search engine rankings, build your site traffic, and help you reach new prospects.

Any questions? Feel free to reach out to us. Your success is our top focus and we’d love to help you grow!