Today a lot of websites are being deployed in more than one language. As business enterprises are expanding their businesses to other nations, the need for multi-lingual websites is also rising. Testing these multi-lingual websites involves its own set of risks and challenges. So how can you conduct a successful multi-lingual website testing? Well, here are some very useful tips that can help you out.
Tips To Perform Successful Multi-Lingual Website Testing
1. Divide Your Entire Test Process
Consider dividing the entire test process into three phases:
- Testing Artifact Input- Obtain the specifications as well as other necessary documents from the client and begin with gaining thorough knowledge about the software product.
- Testing Execution- Build and execute the test cases. Report the defects.
- Testing Result- Examine the defects.
Also Read: Tips to Define Test Scope for Software Testing
2. Create and Use a Dynamic Test Environment
If your website has been hosted in both English as well as Japanese, it isn’t just sufficient to simply alter the default language of the browser and carry out identical test processes in both languages. By its implementation, your website may identify the right language for the interface from the browser’s language setting, a configuration within the application or some other parameters.
Hence, for carrying out a more realistic test process, it’s necessary to perform your website testing from two different systems- one with English OS and another with a Japanese OS. You may wish to keep default setting in each of the systems as most of the users don’t alter the default setting of their system.
3. Obtain Correct Translations
A native of the same area as that of the users, speaking that language, is generally one of the best resources for providing translations which are precise in both meaning and context. If you are not getting such an individual for providing you translations of your text, then you may require depending upon the automated website translations that are available on the websites such as dictionary.com and wordreference.com.
Comparing the automated website translations from various sources before making use of them in your test process is always a better idea.
4. Know and Understand the Website Thoroughly
If you have the maximum knowledge about the website’s functionalities and the business needs, altering language and testing functionalities for that website with the other languages would be way easier for you.
5. Execute Your Tests in English Language
As you may not have an idea of the languages that the website supports, it’s always better to be extremely proficient with the website’s functionality. Execute your tests in the English version for multiple times. This will, in turn, help you in finding your way very easily in other languages. Otherwise, you may require keeping the English version of your website opened in another web browser for identifying how to move ahead in other languages.
6. Test the Labels First
You can begin testing another language of your website by considering the labels first. Labels are the most static assets on your website. English labels are generally shorter, and the translated labels usually expand. It is crucial to detect any problems associated with label truncation and wrong word wrapping.
7. Gradually Proceed To the Other Controls
Proceed further to check other controls of the website for right translation as well as any UI issues. It’s very critical for the website to provide the right error notification in another language. The test must involve generating every error message.
8. UI Testing
In UI check for grammatical errors, wrong character graphic, and color. Check for content management as every region has got its specific method of reading. For example, the people from West read “left to right” while people from Central East read “right to left.”
Also Read: A Comprehensive Guide To User Acceptance Testing
9. Test the Data
The multi-lingual websites usually store data in UTF- 8 Unicode encoding format. For checking your website’s character encoding in Mozilla: click on View -> Character Encoding. Data in various languages can easily be showcased in this type of format.
Check for input data. The website should accept data entered into another language. The data that is displayed on your website must be correct. The output data must also be compared with the translation.
10. Pay Attention to Specific Culture
A big challenge involved in multi-lingual website testing is, each language may be meant for the users belonging to a specific culture. A lot of things like preferred test direction, colors, address, salutations format, etc. differ from one culture to the other.
Apart from providing correct translations, your website’s version of another language should take care that other components of the UI including text direction, date format, and currency symbol are also correct.
Testing your website for multiple languages is not that difficult if you follow the above mentioned critical tips and tricks. These tips will guide you in getting started with your multi-language website testing to achieve the desired results.
