UI testing - critical basics to check

UI testing is an essential step in guaranteeing the software quality of an application. It involves checking that every element of the user interface works as intended, and delivers a smooth, pleasant experience.

Essentially, these tests detect visual and functional anomalies before they reach your end-users.

In this article, we explore the critical basics to check during your interface tests that will make the difference in your users' satisfaction and software quality.

1. Functionality of interactive elements

Interactive elements are the very foundation of a successful interface. Every button must trigger the intended action without delay or error, while menus must unfold correctly and allow smooth selection.

Input fields require special attention, as they must accept the expected formats, clearly display the data entered and react to keyboard and mouse interactions.

For example, a form that refuses a valid e-mail address or a validation button that remains inactive represents an immediate break in the user experience.

2. Visual consistency of the interface

Visual consistency is much more than just a question of aesthetics. It's the common thread that guides the user's eye through your application.

When a button changes color from one page to the next, or a font differs from one section to the next, users unconsciously feel a break in their experience. UI testing must therefore meticulously verify that each element complies with the established graphic charter.

Page layout is particularly important. Alignments must be perfect, and spacing must be consistent between sections.

A shift of a few pixels may seem negligible in development, but it creates an impression of amateurism for the end user.

Colors and fonts also deserve rigorous control to ensure the visual harmony that transforms a functional interface into a memorable, professional experience.

3. Interface responsiveness and adaptability

The diversity of devices in use today calls for particular attention to UI responsiveness.

UI testing must systematically validate your interface's suitability on smartphones, tablets and desktops. Each screen resolution presents its own challenges.

For example, a drop-down menu that is perfectly functional on the desktop may become unusable on mobile if the touch zones are too small.

However, responsive design isn't just about resizing elements, it's about rethinking the layout to preserve ergonomics.

It's crucial to ensure that images fit without distortion, text remains legible without excessive zoom, and action buttons remain accessible regardless of screen size. This adaptability guarantees a fluid experience that retains your users' loyalty, whatever their preferred device.

4. Accessibility for all users

Digital accessibility is more than just a checkbox in your testing process. It's about ensuring that everyone, whatever their physical or cognitive abilities, can interact fully with your interface.

The WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) accessibility standards define precise criteria to be met: 

• Sufficient contrast between text and background
• Keyboard navigation without a mouse
• Alternative descriptions for images
• Subtitles for video content.
  

Verifying compliance with these standards means testing with screen readers, validating the semantic structure of HTML code, and ensuring that forms are correctly labeled.

An accessible interface naturally expands your audience while improving the overall experience for all users.

5. Optimized performance and loading times for a better user experience 

When a button is slow to respond, or a page takes several seconds to load, frustration quickly sets in. According to a Google study: over 50% of mobile visitors abandon a site if it takes more than 3 seconds to load.

Tests must therefore precisely measure the loading time of each component, from the appearance of the first visual elements to the complete interactivity of the page.

Metrics such as First Contentful Paint (FCP) or Time to Interactive (TTI) help identify bottlenecks and optimize the experience before it degrades the overall perception of your product.

6. Intuitive navigation between sections to facilitate the user journey

During UI Testing, it's essential to validate that every link, menu and transition between pages works smoothly. Successful ergonomics enable users to move naturally through the application, as if they were following a signposted path.

Imagine an e-commerce site where the "Back to basket" button leads back to the home page: confusion sets in immediately, and users risk abandoning their purchase.

Checking the consistency of navigation paths, testing redirects and ensuring that every action leads exactly where the user wants to go, helps you ensure a smooth and pleasant (and profitable) experience.

7. Error handling in the interface to guide the user 

When an error occurs, whether due to incorrect input or a technical problem, the way the interface reacts can turn simple frustration into total abandonment.

Testing these error scenarios ensures that every problem situation is anticipated and handled elegantly. Clear error messages should indicate precisely what is going wrong and, above all, how to remedy it.

A message like "Error 404" is not enough. Users need to understand immediately whether the problem is due to their input, a page that can't be found or a temporary malfunction.

The tests must validate that each message actually guides the user towards solving the problem, rather than leaving him in a state of uncertainty.

Mr Suricate : a testing platform to master your user paths

Manually testing each interface element after each modification can quickly become time-consuming and a source of human error.

Automated graphical testing transforms this equation by enabling repetitive checks to be carried out with consistent accuracy. Test automation ensures that the same scenarios are validated identically in each iteration, eliminating variations due to fatigue or oversights.

Mr Suricate is part of this approach, offering a no-code platform dedicated to automating your user paths. The tool lets you configure test scenarios that run automatically, while providing real-time monitoring of results.

Every anomaly detected generates insights that can be exploited immediately, enabling you to quickly identify friction points before they affect your real users.