Testing your HTML code is an essential part of web development. Ensuring that your code is error-free and
functions correctly across different browsers can save you time and prevent headaches down the line. In this
blog post, we’ll cover the best practices and tools for testing your HTML code. Let’s dive in!
1. Validate your HTML code
Before diving into more advanced testing techniques, you should start by validating your HTML code.
Validating your code checks it against the HTML standards set by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
Ensuring that your code is up to date with these standards helps to prevent compatibility issues and makes
your site more accessible to users.
To perform HTML validation, you can use the W3C Markup
Validation Service. To validate your HTML code, simply paste it into the validator or provide the
URL of your web page. The validator will then display any errors or warnings related to your code.
For instance, let’s say you have the following HTML code:
<title>Testing HTML</title>
<h1>Welcome to My Website</h1>
<p>This is a paragraph.</p>
You can validate this code by pasting it into the W3C Markup Validation Service. If there are no errors or
warnings, the validator will show a “Passed” message.
2. Test for cross-browser compatibility
Now that your HTML code is validated, it’s time to test it across different browsers. Different browsers
(such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge) may interpret your HTML code differently,
which can lead to inconsistencies in how your web page is displayed. To ensure that your site looks and
functions correctly across a wide range of browsers, it’s important to test your HTML code in each of
them.
You can do this manually by opening your web page in different browsers and checking for any visual or
functional discrepancies. However, this process can be time-consuming, especially if you need to test your
site on multiple operating systems or devices. A more efficient approach is to use a cross-browser testing
tool.
There are several cross-browser testing tools available, such as BrowserStack and Cross
Browser Testing. These tools allow you to test your HTML code on multiple browsers, platforms, and
devices simultaneously, making it easier to identify and fix any compatibility issues.
3. Use web developer tools
Most modern web browsers come with built-in web developer tools that can help you test and debug your HTML
code. These tools typically include an HTML inspector, which allows you to view and edit the HTML code of
your web page in real time. This can be invaluable for identifying issues and testing potential
solutions.
To access the web developer tools in most browsers, simply right-click on your web page and select
Inspect or Inspect Element. This will open the HTML inspector, where you
can view your HTML code and make changes as needed.
4. Test your HTML code with screen readers
Accessibility is an important aspect of web development that is often overlooked. To ensure that your HTML
code is accessible to users with disabilities, you should test it with screen readers. Screen readers are
software applications that convert text into speech, allowing visually impaired users to navigate and
interact with your web page.
There are several screen reader applications available, such as NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) for Windows and VoiceOver for macOS. To test your HTML code with a screen reader, simply enable
the application and navigate through your web page using the screen reader’s keyboard commands. This will
help you identify any issues with your HTML code and ensure that your site is accessible to all
users.