Testing Web Apps with Microsoft Edge DevTools

Microsoft Edge, now part of the Chromium project, has become a powerful tool for web developers. Among its many features is a set of advanced developer ...

tools called Microsoft Edge DevTools. These tools help you efficiently test and debug your web applications. In this blog post, you'll learn how to use Microsoft Edge DevTools to test and optimize your web applications.

1. Introduction to Microsoft Edge DevTools
2. Opening the DevTools Console
3. Using the Elements Panel
4. Inspecting Network Requests
5. Debugging JavaScript with Breakpoints
6. Emulating Mobile Devices
7. Performance Testing and Profiling
8. Security Audits
9. Conclusion

1.) Introduction to Microsoft Edge DevTools

Microsoft Edge DevTools is a set of web developer tools built into the browser. It provides features similar to popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Opera but with additional enhancements tailored for Windows users. The DevTools interface includes multiple panels that cover different aspects of web development: Elements, Console, Sources, Network, Performance, Memory, Application, and more.

2.) Opening the DevTools Console

To open Microsoft Edge DevTools, you can use one or a combination of these methods:

- Right-click on any page element and select -Inspect- (or press `Ctrl+Shift+I`).

- Press `F12` or `Ctrl+Shift+S`.

- Open the menu in the browser (`...` icon) and select -More tools- >> -Developer Tools-
Once open, you'll see the main interface with several panels. The Console panel is located at the bottom by default but can be moved to a different position via drag and drop or through settings if needed.

3.) Using the Elements Panel

The Elements panel allows you to view and interact with the DOM (Document Object Model) of your web page, including editing styles in real-time. This is particularly useful for debugging layout issues, testing CSS changes, and understanding how elements are structured and rendered.

Tips:

- Use the -Styles- tab to inspect and modify inline styles or classes applied to an element directly from the browser interface.

- The -Computed- tab shows all computed style properties of an element as calculated by the browser.

- You can also use the -Event Listeners- tab to see which events are attached to elements, which is helpful for understanding how a web application responds to user interactions.

4.) Inspecting Network Requests

The Network panel in Microsoft Edge DevTools provides detailed information about all network requests made by your site including HTTP headers, response times, and sizes of assets loaded. This can be particularly useful for optimizing page load times or diagnosing issues with specific resources like scripts or images.

Tips:

- Use the -Filters- option to narrow down which types of traffic you're interested in (e.g., only JavaScript files).

- Look at the size and time taken under each request; this can help identify large, slow assets that might need optimization.

- You can also use the -Enable caching- feature if you want to see how often certain resources are being fetched from the server or locally cached by the browser.

5.) Debugging JavaScript with Breakpoints

Microsoft Edge DevTools supports setting breakpoints in your JavaScript code, allowing you to pause execution and inspect variables at specific points in your scripts. This is incredibly useful for debugging complex applications where errors might not be immediately obvious.

Tips:

- Use the -Sources- panel to open files containing JavaScript code.

- Set breakpoints by clicking on a line number or using the debugger statement (`debugger;`).

- Step through code, inspect variable values, and use watch expressions to track changes in real time.

6.) Emulating Mobile Devices

One of the most powerful features of Microsoft Edge DevTools is its ability to emulate different devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) by selecting from a range of device presets or custom settings like viewport size and pixel ratio. This is invaluable for testing responsive web design layouts that perform correctly across various screen sizes.

Tips:

- Go to the -Toggle Device Toolbar- button in the upper right corner of DevTools.

- Select an emulated device from the dropdown menu, or create a custom preset using the -Add Custom Device...- option.

- Use this mode to simulate how your web app will appear and behave on actual mobile devices before going live.

7.) Performance Testing and Profiling

The Performance panel in Microsoft Edge DevTools helps you analyze performance issues like long tasks, frame rate drops, and resource bottlenecks by recording a timeline of activities during page load or interaction with the site.

Tips:

- Open the -Performance- tab and click the record button to start profiling your application's behavior.

- Look at CPU usage graphs under different tabs (Main, Rendering, Scripting) to pinpoint areas that need optimization.

- Use the Flame chart view to analyze individual functions and their contribution to overall performance.

8.) Security Audits

Microsoft Edge DevTools includes a -Security- panel that can scan your site for potential security issues like mixed content (HTTP and HTTPS), insecure connections, and third-party script warnings via the Lighthouse audit tool.

Tips:

- Open the -Lighthouse- tab from the Performance or Security panels to run an automated audit on your website's performance, accessibility, SEO, best practices, and security metrics.

- Review detailed reports with actionable insights for improving site health.

9.) Conclusion

Microsoft Edge DevTools is a versatile set of tools that every web developer should be familiar with. By using these features effectively, you can significantly improve your ability to test, debug, and optimize web applications across various platforms and devices.

Testing Web Apps with Microsoft Edge DevTools