How to Test an E-Commerce Website: Your Full Guide

Managing an online store comes with its set of challenges, especially when aiming to provide an obstacle-free and enjoyable experience for every customer. With thousands of pages, intricate search functionality, and stringent security requirements, e-commerce websites demand ongoing professional testing and in-depth expertise.

Tired of losing sales due to bugs and your website going down during the Black Friday craze? It’s time to take control of your online store’s quality. E-commerce testing helps identify those frustrating experiences and technical glitches that kill conversions.

Let us walk you through our comprehensive e-commerce testing checklist that will help identify and fix issues before they impact your business. By adopting a systematic approach to e-commerce testing, you can ensure a positive and secure online shopping experience for your customers.

Step-By-Step E-Commerce Testing Checklist

E-commerce testing may seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be a headache. We’ve put together a list of must-have tests that will make an impactful difference, without wasting your time and money. These tests will help you check every corner of your online store and be confident you’re giving customers the best possible experience. Let’s get started!

Functionality Testing

A functional e-commerce site is more likely to convert visitors into paying customers. Functional testing makes sure that everything on your e-commerce site does what it’s supposed to. For example, if a customer adds something to their favorites, it should actually be saved, and they shouldn’t have to refresh the page to see it. Here are the test scenarios and test cases to verify your website is fully functional.

User Registration and Login:

• Check if the registration form accepts valid user information
• Verify that registration triggers email confirmation
• Ensure successful login with valid credentials
• Test password reset functionality, including email notifications

Product Search:

• Verify if search results are relevant to the keywords entered
• Check the auto-complete feature: does the search box suggest relevant items as users type
• Test if users can filter search results by category, price, brand, color, or other attributes
• Check if search results are paginated appropriately

Cart Functionality:

• Test the process of adding, updating, and removing items in the cart
• Verify that cart calculations and total amounts are accurate
• Ensure that cart contents are preserved between user sessions
• Ensure that the item displayed in the cart matches the user’s selection in terms of size, color, and other aspects

Checkout Process:

• Validate the accuracy of shipping and billing information entry
• Test various payment methods (credit card, PayPal, crypto) for correct processing
• Confirm that the order summary accurately reflects the selected items and total cost
• Check for the successful placement of orders and the receipt of order confirmation emails

User Account Management:

• Test the functionality of profile updates, including changes to passwords and email addresses
• Verify the accuracy and completeness of the order history
• Test the order tracking feature to ensure it provides real-time updates
• Confirm that email notifications, such as order confirmations and status updates, are sent and received correctly

Wishlist and Favorites:

• Validate the ability to add, remove, and manage items in wishlists and favorites
• Test the transition of items between the cart and wishlists
• Confirm that users can easily view and manage their favorite items

Coupon and Discount Codes:

• Test the application of coupon codes and ensure accurate calculations
• Verify the stacking of multiple discounts, if applicable
• Check the expiration and validation of coupon codes
• Confirm that discounts are correctly applied to orders

Shipping and Tax Calculation:

• Validate the accuracy of shipping cost calculations based on location and method
• Confirm accurate tax calculations according to the user’s location
• Test the functionality of free shipping options and discount thresholds

Currency Conversion:

• Test if the prices displayed on the website are accurately converted when the user switches between different currencies
• Ensure that the default currency is set based on the user’s preferences
• Ensure that promotions and discounts are applied correctly after currency conversion

Guest Checkout:

• Ensure a smooth guest checkout process that doesn’t require user registration
• Verify that users can successfully place orders without creating accounts
• Confirm that guest users receive complete order confirmation emails with detailed information
• Check if guest users can apply coupon codes or other discounts, if applicable

Return & Refund Process:

• Test the return process due to receiving a wrong item, damage, or incorrect size
• Check if the return request is successfully submitted
• Check if the user receives a confirmation email or notification
• Ensure the system generates a return label (if applicable) and provides instructions on how to return the item
• Ensure that the user eligible for a refund receives it within the specified timeframe
• Check if the user receives a notification or email confirming/rejecting the refund

Performance Testing

Performance testing evaluates how a system performs under various workloads and conditions, such as high traffic, a heavier stream of concurrent users, and larger data volumes. For e-commerce sites, performance can directly impact their revenue: the quicker a webpage loads, the more likely a user is to convert. Walmart found that improving page load times by 1 second results in conversions increased by 2%. Here are the types of performance testing used to verify a website’s performance.

Load Testing:

• Evaluate how your website performs under varying levels of user traffic, ensuring it can handle peak loads without degradation
• Test the system’s response times, resource utilization, and transaction processing capacity under heavy loads
• Identify performance bottlenecks and optimize server configurations for scalability

Stress Testing:

• Push the system to its limits to determine the breaking point and understand how it fails under extreme conditions
• Analyze system behavior, errors, and recovery mechanisms when subjected to excessive load
• Ensure graceful degradation or recovery instead of abrupt crashes

Scalability Testing:

• Assess the website’s ability to scale horizontally or vertically to accommodate increased user loads
• Test the effectiveness of load-balancing mechanisms to distribute traffic evenly across multiple servers
• Ensure that the website can seamlessly adapt to growing user demands

Response Time Testing:

• Measure the response times for critical user actions such as page loading, product searches, and checkout processes
• Set specific response time targets and verify that the website consistently meets or exceeds them
• Identify and address performance bottlenecks affecting response times

Concurrency Testing:

• Evaluate the system’s ability to handle concurrent user interactions, including simultaneous logins, searches, and purchases
• Monitor how the system manages shared resources and maintains data integrity under concurrent access
• Ensure that user sessions do not interfere with each other, preserving data accuracy

Capacity Testing:

• Determine the maximum capacity the system can handle before performance degrades or crashes
• Gradually increase the load until predefined performance criteria are breached, pinpointing capacity limitations
• Use results to plan infrastructure upgrades or optimizations to accommodate future growth

Real-World Scenario Testing:

• Mimic real-world scenarios by combining different types of performance testing (e.g., load, stress, and scalability) to simulate user behavior accurately
• Analyze how the website performs under multifaceted conditions, including peak loads, traffic spikes, and resource constraints
• Validate that the website maintains optimal performance across diverse user scenarios

Security Testing

Security is essential for building and maintaining customer trust. When customers feel confident that their information is safe, they are more likely to return and make purchases.

Because e-commerce websites are prime targets for criminals, security testing is indispensable. It helps identify vulnerabilities that could expose sensitive customer data like addresses, credit card numbers, and other personal details to hackers. Here are some critical steps to prevent identity theft, financial fraud, and loss of trust.

Authentication and Authorization:

• Verify the robustness of user authentication mechanisms, ensuring only authorized users gain access
• Test password policies, multi-factor authentication, and session management for potential weaknesses
• Confirm that users can only access their own data, preventing unauthorized access to sensitive information

Data Encryption:

• Evaluate data transmission security by testing encryption protocols such as SSL/TLS
• Ensure that sensitive data, including customer payment information, is encrypted during storage and transmission
• Verify the implementation of secure encryption algorithms and key management practices

Input Validation:

• Test all input fields and forms for vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and command injection
• Validate that the website filters and sanitizes user inputs to prevent malicious code execution
• Ensure that error messages do not reveal sensitive information that could be exploited by attackers

Session Management:

• Assess session handling mechanisms to prevent session fixation, hijacking, and cookie theft.
• Confirm that session tokens are securely generated, stored, and invalidated after logout or inactivity
• Validate that users cannot access other users’ sessions or escalate privileges

Access Control:

• Test the enforcement of access control policies, ensuring users can only access authorized resources
• Verify that role-based access controls are implemented correctly and prevent unauthorized actions
• Evaluate how the system handles privilege escalation attempts

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Protection:

• Test for CSRF vulnerabilities by attempting unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users
• Verify the presence of anti-CSRF tokens in forms to prevent attackers from tricking users into performing malicious actions
• Ensure that the website effectively mitigates CSRF attacks

Security Headers:

• Check for the presence of security headers in HTTP responses, including Content Security Policy (CSP), X-Content-Type-Options, and X-Frame-Options
• Validate that these headers are configured correctly to prevent common web security issues
• Ensure that the website uses HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) to enforce secure communication

File Upload and Download Security:

• Test file upload functionality for potential vulnerabilities, such as allowing executable files or not properly validating file types
• Verify that downloaded files cannot be manipulated to execute malicious code
• Ensure that uploaded files are stored securely and scanned for malware

Third-Party Component Security:

• Assess the security of third-party components and libraries used in your website
• Check if these components are regularly updated and patched to address known vulnerabilities
• Check if security advisories are monitored and security patches are applied promptly

Logging and Monitoring:

• Ensure robust logging practices are implemented to record security-relevant events and actions
• Check if logs for suspicious activities, potential security breaches, and unauthorized access attempts are monitored
• Ensure incident response procedures that address security incidents are promptly established

Usability Testing

Usability testing helps identify pain points and frustrations that users may encounter while navigating an e-commerce site. In a worldwide survey conducted in 2024, 30% of online shoppers abandoned their carts because of unexpected costs at the checkout. Another 17% of shoppers were abandoning their carts due to discount codes not working. Usability testing can help identify these elements that may be hindering conversions, such as confusing checkout processes or hidden fees.

Also, identifying usability issues early in the development process can save time and money by preventing costly redesigns or fixes later on. Here’s what a comprehensive usability check typically entails.

Website Navigation and Layout:

• Assess the clarity and intuitiveness of navigation menus and overall website structure
• Confirm that essential information, such as product categories and contact details, is readily accessible
• Ensure a consistent layout and design across all pages to maintain a cohesive user experience

Search Functionality and Results:

• Test the effectiveness of the search bar in retrieving relevant products and content
• Verify the presence of filters and sorting options to help users refine search results
• Ensure that search results are displayed in an informative and user-friendly format

Content Readability and Accessibility:

• Evaluate the readability of website content, including product descriptions and policies
• Validate that text is well-formatted, legible, and free from errors
• Ensure compliance with web accessibility standards (WCAG) to accommodate users with disabilities

Product Presentation and Details:

• Assess how products are presented, including images, descriptions, and pricing
• Verify the use of high-quality images and clear, informative product details
• Evaluate the placement and visibility of call-to-action buttons, such as “Add to Cart” and “Buy Now”

Efficiency of Checkout Process:

• Test the efficiency and user-friendliness of the checkout process
• Confirm that users can easily manage items in their shopping carts, including adding, removing, and modifying products
• Assess the clarity of instructions and the number of steps required to complete a purchase

User Account Management:

• Evaluate the ease of creating and managing user accounts, including profile updates and password changes
• Confirm that users can access order history, track shipments, and view account-related information
• Ensure user-friendly features, such as order reordering and saved addresses, are available

Effective Error Handling and Help Features:

• Assess the clarity and helpfulness of error messages displayed during user interactions
• Verify the presence of help features, such as tooltips, live chat support, or FAQs
• Ensure users can recover from errors without abandoning their tasks easily

User Feedback and Continuous Improvement:

• Gather feedback from real users through surveys, user testing sessions, or feedback forms
• Continuously monitor user behavior and analyze analytics data to identify and address usability issues

Compatibility Testing

Compatibility testing verifies that a website or app functions correctly across various devices, browsers, operating systems, and network conditions. Given the increasing diversity of devices and platforms used for online shopping, compatibility testing has become more critical than ever. Compatibility testing helps prevent layout issues, broken elements, or incorrect display of content on different screens. Here are some key items that need to be tested.

Device Compatibility:

• Test your e-commerce website on diverse devices, encompassing desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones
• Ensure responsive design and adaptability across varying screen sizes and resolutions
• Validate touch-based interactions, including gestures and navigation, for optimal mobile usability

Browser Compatibility:

• Evaluate your website’s performance across prominent web browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge
• Verify consistent rendering of web pages, ensuring uniformity in layout and functionality
• Test JavaScript interactions and compatibility with browser-specific features

Operating System Compatibility:

• Confirm platform-specific functionalities, preventing any disruptions in the user experience
• Ensure that essential features such as navigation and checkout remain consistent across various operating systems

Integration Testing

Integration testing ensures that all components of your e-commerce platform function cohesively. E-commerce transactions involve a complex flow of data from the user’s input to the final order fulfillment. Integration testing ensures that data is accurately transmitted and processed between different components, avoiding issues like incorrect pricing, stock shortages, or payment failures. Follow these steps for in-depth integration testing.

Third-Party Integrations:

• Test integrations with external services and APIs, such as payment gateways, shipping carriers, and inventory management systems
• Verify that data is exchanged accurately and securely between your e-commerce platform and third-party systems
• Assess error handling and fallback mechanisms in case of integration failures

Payment Integration:

• Test payment processing functionality with real and simulated transactions
• Verify that payment gateways, such as credit card processors and digital wallets, work smoothly
• Confirm the correct handling of payment errors and the security of payment data

Shipping and Fulfillment Integration:

• Test the integration with shipping carriers to calculate shipping costs and generate shipping labels
• Verify that accurate shipping options and delivery times are presented to customers
• Confirm proper order tracking and status updates through integrated shipping services

Inventory Management Integration:

• Test real-time synchronization of product inventory levels between your e-commerce platform and inventory management systems
• Verify that products are marked as out of stock when inventory runs low and restocked when new inventory arrives
• Assess the accuracy of inventory data displayed to customers

Content Management System (CMS) Integration:

• Test the integration between your e-commerce website and CMS, ensuring seamless content updates
• Verify that changes to product listings, categories, and promotional content reflect accurately on the website
• Confirm that content updates do not disrupt the overall user experience

User Account and Authentication Integration:

• Test the integration of user account data and authentication systems
• Ensure that user profiles, login credentials, and account-related information are synchronized correctly
• Verify that users can access their accounts seamlessly from different parts of the website

Analytics and Reporting Integration:

• Test the integration of analytics tools and reporting systems to track user behavior and website performance
• Verify the accuracy of data collection and reporting for metrics such as traffic, conversions, and bounce rates
• Ensure that data privacy and security measures are in place for collected user data

Mobile App Integration:

• If applicable, test the integration between your e-commerce site and mobile applications (iOS, Android)
• Verify that mobile app features, such as product browsing, cart management, and checkout, align with the website’s functionality
• Ensure a consistent and cohesive user experience across web and mobile platforms

Search and Recommendation Engine Integration:

• Test the integration of search and recommendation engines to provide users with relevant product suggestions
• Verify that search results and product recommendations are accurate and enhance the user’s shopping experience
• Assess the performance and responsiveness of search and recommendation features

Social Media and Marketing Integration:

• Test integrations with social media platforms and marketing tools for sharing and promoting products
• Verify that sharing buttons and social media links function correctly and display accurate content
• Ensure that marketing automation and email campaigns are triggered as intended

Database Testing

Database testing plays a pivotal role in ensuring the reliability, security, and overall success of e-commerce platforms. It ensures that the data stored in the database is correct and consistent. Database testing evaluates how quickly the database can process queries and return results. It also ensures that customer data is protected and complies with relevant regulations (GDPR, CCPA, etc.). Here’s how you can incorporate database testing into your development process.

Data Accuracy and Consistency:

• Verify the accuracy of data stored in the database, including product information, pricing, and user details
• Test data consistency across different parts of the website to prevent discrepancies and errors
• Confirm that data updates are correctly reflected in real time throughout the platform

Data Retrieval and Query Performance:

• Evaluate the performance of database queries used to retrieve product listings, user profiles, and order history
• Ensure that queries are optimized to deliver results promptly, even under heavy user loads.
• Test the efficiency of indexing and caching mechanisms to improve query response times

Concurrency and Transaction Handling:

• Verify that transactions are atomic, consistent, isolated, and durable (ACID properties)
• Assess the system’s ability to manage concurrent requests without data corruption or conflicts

Data Backup and Recovery:

• Validate the backup and recovery processes for database backups
• Test data restoration procedures to ensure minimal data loss in case of system failures
• Assess the frequency and completeness of database backups, considering historical data retention

Data Migration and Version Compatibility:

• Test the migration of data when transitioning to new database versions or schema changes
• Verify that data remains consistent and intact during the migration process
• Assess compatibility with various database management systems (DBMS) and versions

Scalability and Load Testing:

• Evaluate the database’s scalability by testing its ability to handle increased data volumes and concurrent users
• Measure the performance impact on database response times under various load conditions
• Ensure that the database can scale horizontally or vertically to accommodate growth

Data Privacy and Compliance:

• Verify compliance with data protection regulations and privacy standards, such as GDPR or CCPA
• Assess the encryption and hashing mechanisms used to protect sensitive customer data
• Test data anonymization and pseudonymization techniques for user privacy

Delivering Result-Oriented E-commerce Testing

Our expertise in e-commerce testing is evident in our work with Kazidomi, a sustainable e-commerce platform in Belgium.

Previously, Kazidomi faced difficulties with their bug reporting process. The reports from the customer care team were often vague and lacked the necessary details for developers to quickly identify and fix issues.

That’s where we stepped in. Our team of seasoned QAwerk software testers, armed with a deep understanding of e-commerce nuances and a passion for quality, established an effective QA process.

Here are the positive changes we brought to Kazidomi’s processes:

• Streamlined Bug Reporting: We transformed vague bug reports into clear, actionable steps, saving Kazidomi’s developers valuable time and ensuring issues were resolved efficiently.
• Automated Testing for Speed and Efficiency: We implemented robust test automation frameworks, significantly reducing the time spent on functional, UI, and regression testing. This allowed Kazidomi to deliver new features and improvements to their customers faster.
• Enhanced Conversion Rates: We meticulously tested every aspect of Kazidomi’s platform, from the user’s initial journey to the final checkout process. By identifying and eliminating potential conversion killers, we helped Kazidomi increase their sales.
• Comprehensive Test Documentation: We created and maintained detailed test documentation, ensuring that every feature was thoroughly tested and that the quality assurance process was transparent and repeatable.

Are user complaints impacting your e-commerce business? Don’t let bugs tarnish your brand’s reputation. Book a free consultation with QAwerk to learn how you can catch critical bugs before your users experience them. We’ll talk about your current QA workflow and offer a testing strategy that addresses your challenges in the fastest way possible.