How do you debug your web app for multiple devices?

1 Choose a responsive design framework

One of the first steps to debug your web app for multiple devices is to use a responsive design framework that adapts your layout and content to different screen widths and orientations. A responsive design framework, such as Bootstrap or Foundation, provides you with a grid system, breakpoints, media queries, and other features that make your web app more flexible and user-friendly. Using a responsive design framework can save you time and effort in debugging your web app for multiple devices, as it reduces the need for custom CSS and JavaScript.

2 Use browser developer tools

Another essential step to debug your web app for multiple devices is to use the browser developer tools that are available in most modern browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. Browser developer tools allow you to inspect and modify your web app's HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and network activity, as well as simulate different devices, screen sizes, and network conditions. You can use browser developer tools to identify and fix issues such as layout problems, broken links, slow loading, or compatibility errors.

3 Test on real devices

While browser developer tools are useful for debugging your web app for multiple devices, they cannot replace testing on real devices. Testing on real devices gives you a more accurate and realistic feedback on how your web app performs and looks on different browsers, operating systems, and hardware. You can use your own devices, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, or desktops, or you can use online services, such as BrowserStack or LambdaTest, that allow you to access hundreds of devices remotely. Testing on real devices can help you discover and resolve issues that browser developer tools may not catch, such as touch interactions, device-specific features, or user behavior.

4 Use debugging tools and libraries

In addition to browser developer tools and real devices, you can also use debugging tools and libraries that can help you debug your web app for multiple devices more efficiently and effectively. Debugging tools and libraries can provide you with features such as logging, breakpoints, error handling, performance analysis, or cross-browser testing. Some examples of debugging tools and libraries are:

- console.log() : A simple and widely used JavaScript method that prints messages to the browser console. You can use console.log() to display values, variables, objects, or errors in your web app's code.

- debugger; : A JavaScript statement that pauses the execution of your web app's code and opens the browser's debugger. You can use debugger; to inspect and modify the state of your web app at any point.

- Modernizr : A JavaScript library that detects the features and capabilities of the browser that your web app is running on. You can use Modernizr to create fallbacks or enhancements for your web app based on the browser's support for HTML5, CSS3, or JavaScript features.

- jQuery : A popular JavaScript library that simplifies the manipulation of the HTML document, the handling of events, the animation of elements, and the communication with the server. You can use jQuery to write cross-browser compatible code that works on multiple devices.

5 Follow web standards and best practices

The final step to debug your web app for multiple devices is to follow web standards and best practices that ensure quality, compatibility, and accessibility. These guidelines are developed and maintained by organizations such as the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) or the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). For example, you should use valid and semantic HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code that follows the syntax and structure of the web languages. Additionally, you should employ progressive enhancement and graceful degradation techniques to provide a basic level of functionality and usability for all devices and browsers. Furthermore, responsive images and icons should be used to adapt to the screen size and resolution of the device and browser, while also optimizing them for fast loading and low bandwidth consumption. Web fonts and font icons should be compatible with multiple devices and browsers, with fallback fonts and icons for devices and browsers that do not support them. Finally, accessibility features such as alt attributes, labels, headings, landmarks, captions, or ARIA roles and attributes should be employed to make your web app accessible to people with disabilities.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?