Get Started With Chrome DevTools

Modern web browsers like Google Chrome come with a powerful set of tools that help developers and testers inspect, debug, and enhance web pages. One of the most widely used tools is Chrome DevTools. Whether you’re a web developer, software tester, or just someone curious about how web pages work behind the scenes, Chrome DevTools is your gateway to exploring and interacting with web content in real time.

What is Chrome DevTools?

Chrome DevTools is a set of web development tools built directly into the Google Chrome browser. It allows users to inspect HTML and CSS, debug JavaScript, analyze network activity, simulate mobile devices, etc. It is primarily used for inspecting and debugging web pages.

Testers use DevTools to identify and diagnose issues in web applications without needing external tools.

How to Get Started With Chrome DevTools

You can open Chrome DevTools in several ways:

• https://www.testingdocs.com/how-to-access-chrome-devtools-in-browser/

 

Once opened, DevTools will appear either docked to the side or bottom of your browser window, or in a separate window.

 

Inspect a Web Element Using Chrome DevTools

Inspecting elements helps you understand the structure and styling of any part of a webpage. Here’s how:

1. Open Chrome DevTools.
2. Click the Elements tab.
3. Click the mouse pointer icon in the top-left corner of the DevTools panel (or press Ctrl + Shift + C).
4. Hover over any part of the webpage to highlight it, then click to inspect.

This shows you the HTML and CSS for the selected element, allowing you to view or modify it temporarily.

Making Temporary Changes

You can make quick, non-permanent edits directly in the browser to test styles or content changes:

• Double-click on HTML content in the Elements tab to edit it.
• Modify CSS rules in the Styles pane to see instant visual changes.
• Add new style rules by clicking the + icon in the Styles pane.

These changes only persist until the page is refreshed, making it a great way to test design ideas or debug issues.

Troubleshooting Web Pages

Chrome DevTools is a robust environment for identifying and fixing issues:

• Console Tab: View JavaScript errors and log output. Use it to test scripts on-the-fly.
• Network Tab: Monitor requests and responses, identify slow resources, and diagnose loading issues.
• Sources Tab: Set breakpoints and debug JavaScript code line by line.
• Performance Tab: Analyze runtime performance to improve load and render times.
• Application Tab: Inspect local storage, cookies, and cache data used by the web app.

These tools collectively enable testers to trace and isolate bugs efficiently, enhancing the overall quality of web applications.