Desktop Testing vs. Web Testing: Approach and Tools

Hari Mahesh

One of the most debated topics in software testing is — desktop testing vs. web testing; which is more challenging? Is the former one that takes more work? And the most important question is, which of them needs a better strategy? If you have been associated with software testing, you already understand that testing a desktop application is an altogether different ball game from that of a web application.

Desktop apps must be run on their specific operating systems, do not need the internet to function, and often have strict hardware requirements. On the other hand, web applications need to work across different browsers, support thousands (or millions) of users simultaneously, and be secure against constant cyber threats.

So, what’s the right approach for each? Let’s understand the difference between these two, what approach we need to take to test them, and which tool will be the best for this.

What is Desktop Testing?

Desktop testing refers to testing desktop applications that run on standalone computers. Desktop apps are programs that run in a specific OS environment (Windows, macOS, or Linux) and do not necessarily have an internet connection or web browser to function, unlike web or mobile applications. These applications can be standalone programs like Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, media players, antivirus software, financial tools, or enterprise solutions like SAP.

Importance of Desktop Testing

Desktop applications differ from web-based applications in several key aspects, making desktop testing critical to maintaining their stability, performance, and security.

Maintains Stability

• Desktop applications need to run seamlessly on various hardware and software environments.
• Stability testing makes sure that applications do not crash or fail unexpectedly in different conditions.
• Regular software updates, OS versions, or driver updates can cause performance issues, which would require extensive compatibility testing.

High Performance

• Desktop applications do not rely on a network, and therefore, users generally expect them to run smoothly and not experience lag.
• Performance testing confirms the application is performing well with high loads of data, complex calculations, & multiple operations.
• Performance testing is important in some desktop applications like video editing software or gaming applications that need extensive CPU and memory resources.

Better Security Controls

• Desktop applications store user data locally, which increases the risk of security vulnerabilities.
• Security testing is crucial to prevent data breaches, unauthorized access, malware attacks, or privilege escalations.
• Encryption, authentication, and access control mechanisms need to be validated thoroughly.

Challenges in Desktop Testing

Despite its importance, desktop testing comes with various challenges, mainly due to hardware and software dependencies.

• Platform Dependency: Desktop applications might work differently on Windows, Mac, and Linux due to differences in the architecture of the operating systems and the system APIs, which requires us to test thoroughly for cross-platform compatibility.
• Hardware Compatibility: Desktop software runs directly on local hardware, so performance testing needs to account for processor type, RAM, GPU, and storage, unlike web applications.
• Installation & Uninstallation Problems: Complex installation processes involving system settings, dependencies, and registry modifications can lead to failures or leftover residual files, impacting system stability.
• Security Risks: Locally stored sensitive data makes desktop applications vulnerable to malware, unauthorized access, and privilege escalation, necessitating robust security testing.

What is Web Testing?

Web testing is the practice of testing web applications that are hosted on web servers and accessed via web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari. These applications can be static websites, or dynamic web applications like e-commerce sites, SaaS applications, social media networks, etc. Web testing makes sure that these applications function correctly, securely, and efficiently across different environments.

Importance of Web Testing

Web testing is crucial to check that web applications function correctly, securely, and efficiently across different environments. Let’s look into the reasons that make web testing essential.

Cross-Browser Compatibility

• Unlike mobile app testing, web applications require testing across multiple browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari) for consistent functionality and layout.
• Since different browsers have different rendering engines, they may yield different results for UI elements and JavaScript executions.

Scalability

• Unlike desktop applications, web applications need to handle multiple users accessing the system simultaneously.
• Load testing validates that the application can handle high traffic without performance degradation.

Frequent Updates

• Web applications are frequently updated due to feature upgrades, security patches, or bug fixes.
• Continuous and automated regression testing will also be crucial in checking that problems don’t arise post-update. Read: Continuous Integration and Continuous Testing: How to Establish?

Challenges in Web Testing

Web testing comes with various challenges due to the dynamic nature of web applications, the diversity of user environments, and the complexity of modern web technologies.

• Network Issues: The web applications rely on internet connectivity, and factors like high latency, poor bandwidth and server downtime can affect performance.
• Security Concerns: Since web applications are highly susceptible to cyber attacks like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), cross-site request forgery (CSRF), and data leakage, it becomes essential to test them for security.
• Browser Compatibility Issues: Different browsers render HTML, CSS, and JavaScript differently, which can lead to UI issues or functional differences.
• Responsiveness: Web applications must be mobile-friendly, adapting seamlessly across different screen sizes and devices through responsive design testing.

Approach to Web Testing vs. Desktop Testing

Due to their architecture, dependencies, and user environments, web and desktop applications require different testing approaches. Let’s consider the structured approach for both.

Approach to Desktop Testing

Test Strategy

• Define testing objectives based on software functionality and end-user requirements.
• Choose the appropriate testing methodologies: manual, automation, or a combination of both.
• Plan for different hardware environments, including RAM, CPU, OS versions, and GPU configurations.

Types of Testing

• Functional Testing: Validates core functionalities and checks that UI components behave correctly.
• Performance Testing: Includes load and stress testing to check how the application performs under different workloads.
• Security Testing: Focuses on identifying vulnerabilities, data encryption, and user authentication mechanisms.
• Compatibility Testing: Checks that the application runs smoothly across different OS versions (e.g., Windows 10 vs. Windows 11, macOS Monterey vs. Ventura).
• Usability Testing: Evaluates ease of use, user experience, and accessibility.

Approach to Web Testing

Test Strategy

• Define the scope and types of testing based on the complexity of the web application.
• Identify the necessary tools and frameworks for automation and continuous testing.
• Plan for cross-browser and cross-device testing to check broad compatibility.

Types of Testing

• Functional Testing: To test correct navigation, form submissions, API interactions, and data handling.
• Performance Testing: Measures page load speed, latency, and scalability under different network conditions.
• Security Testing: Includes penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, and protection against cyber threats like SQL injection and XSS (Cross-Site Scripting).
• Compatibility Testing: Checks the application works across different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) and devices (desktop, mobile, tablet).
• Usability Testing: Tests user-friendliness, accessibility compliance, and responsive design.

Key Differences in Approach

Automating Desktop & Web Application

There are many tools and frameworks available for automating web applications, but when considering desktop applications, it’s comparatively less. So, the testing team needs to focus on multiple frameworks, one for desktop and another one for web applications. This is where testRigor makes the difference. testRigor supports both web and desktop automation testing.

Also, with its integrated generative AI support, test cases can be easily written in plain English, making test script creation easy for anyone working on the project. Read: All-Inclusive Guide to Test Case Creation in testRigor.

To learn more about performing desktop app automation using testRigor, read the article: How to automate Native Desktop testing with testRigor? And to learn about website testing, read the article: Website Testing: A Comprehensive Guide.

The points above highlight just a few of the many powerful features testRigor offers. To discover all its capabilities, explore more details here or sign up for a demo to start your journey.

Conclusion

Both desktop testing and web testing are crucial for maintaining software quality, but they follow different approaches due to variations in execution environments, dependencies, and security concerns.

• Desktop testing focuses on stability, performance, and installation challenges.
• Web testing emphasizes browser compatibility, security, and scalability.

By using the right tools and best practices, testers can help create robust and efficient software applications, whether for desktop or web platforms.

“We spent so much time on maintenance when using Selenium, and we spend nearly zero time with maintenance using testRigor.”

Keith Powe VP Of Engineering - IDT