10 Advanced Debugging Techniques to Accelerate Trouble Shooting in Web Development

Why should you consider debugging when developing software or websites? Why should you consider advanced debugging techniques? What are the advanced techniques that you should look for? Are these questions hovering across your mind? Then, you have landed on the correct article. Given there are several debugging techniques out there that may confuse your preferences, this article brings you the ten advanced debugging techniques commonly considered by a professional web development company. 

Before starting the discussion, ensure that performing debugging techniques for a quality website is quite challenging. Most importantly, it demands essential skills apart from hard skills like programming. So, in the future, you may need to hire dedicated web developers for this purpose. 

Do You Need to Debug Your CMS Website?

Every website, including those built with CMS, needs to be debugged. Every web development company performing debugging for a CMS website must look for missing images, broken links, or other potential glitches that may affect the website's functionality. Before diving into the top 10 advanced debugging techniques, let's understand why you need to debug your CMS website.

Performance is the key factor

A slow-loading website can deter visitors. Isn't it? Thus, you need to debug and determine what has slowed your website. Generally, debugging analyzes and optimizes the code and different media files. However, debugging techniques may vary for a CMS website as developers may not need to code for such websites. Look for professional partners who can provide accurate CMS web development services.

Content-related glitches

Debugging covers checking content alignment, responsiveness, and placement of visual elements. It becomes specific to the CMS website. Thus, you need to search for advanced debugging techniques and debug the CMS website. It ensures that all devices hosting the website have well-formatted videos and images. Also, make sure that the text is aligned properly.

Settle down conflicts related to plugin and extension

Extensions and plugins are at the core of CMS. It is valid because CMS developers of a reliable web development company decide their extension and plugin preference. This is how they ensure the performance of CMS websites. However, the main concern is that the incompatibility between CMS-based extensions and plugins makes the website less functional. In such a scenario, debugging can be your ally. 

Facilitating Future Updates

You may need to improve your CMS website to add advanced features. In this sense, a debugged and well-maintained CMS website makes updates and additional enhancements easier. It indicates that such a site is properly documented. Also, it will be pocket-friendly to fix such a website. Keep debugging as a frequent practice. 

Security Concerns

Like other traditionally built websites, CMS websites are sometimes targeted by hackers. You can identify vulnerabilities with debugging, such as SQL injections or cross-site scripting. Further, debugging can help in plugin audits, update checks, performance checks, and database security. Practicing debugging is like website prevention from security threats. 

Top 10 Debugging Techniques to Follow

As you have become assured of why you need to debug your CMS website, let's talk about the advanced debugging techniques. 

Initiate with the Staging Environment

Firstly, make it a point that you never make changes directly on your live site. Use a staging environment instead to test all changes. This prevents potential issues on your live site and allows for a safer testing ground.

Consider Built-in Tools for Debugging

Many CMS platforms like WordPress come with built-in debugging choices. For instance, WordPress's WP_DEBUG mode displays PHP errors on the screen. Hence, it makes it easier for developers to address issues.

Add in Browser Inspection Tools in your Debugging phase 

Tools such as Firefox's Inspector and Chrome DevTools are priceless. They allow you to inspect HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in real time, right within your browser. 

Testing CMS website on Cross-Browser

Different browsers present your site differently. With cross-browser testing tools like Lambda Test or Browser Stack, debugging experts of a professional web development company ensure that website display and functionality are uniform across various browsers, including Chrome, Safari, and Firefox.

Check Responsive Design

Sites need to be mobile-friendly- be it CMS websites or conventional ones. Tools like Google's Mobile-Friendly Test can come to your help. You can check how well your site adapts to smaller screens. This ensures that your website offers a good experience.

Utilize Validator Services

Online services like W3C Validator can scan your code for non-compliance or errors. This helps you fix problematic HTML or CSS affecting your site's functionality.

Inspect on Site Speed and Performance

It is evident that slow-loading websites turn visitors away. To avoid this, use GTmetrix or Google Page Speed Insights to check how quickly your site loads. These tools offer actionable advice on the site's speed improvement.

Error Logs

Always check your PHP error logs and the website's server. If you find errors, tackle them immediately to stop more issues from occurring.

Accessibility Checks

Accessibility isn't optional; it's necessary. Tools like WAVE or WebAIM help audit your website for accessibility compliance. They help you make your CMS website inclusive to users with disabilities by checking components like forms, images, and text.

Monitor Real-Time Activity

Finally, use analytics tools like Google Analytics to monitor how users interact with your site. If you notice high bounce rates on certain pages, that might indicate a concern worth debugging.

Are There Any Debugging Tools To Help Troubleshoot CMS Websites? 

Even though you follow the advanced debugging techniques, you should look for debugging tools for effortless troubleshooting for CMS websites. This is the usual way followed by a professional web development company. Let's find out more of the tools given below.

Query Monitor

Consider Query Monitor as the sidekick. It allows you to keep an eye on queries (which is database talk). It is a full-blown developer panel for the WordPress CMS web development company. 

This tool lets you scrutinize scripts, stylesheet spying, and perform API call investigating. Moreover, this tool reveals your website's behavior secrets in the most genius ways.

Debug Bar

Debug Bar is like a secret menu accessible through the WordPress admin bar. And make sure that you know this tool is helpful for debugging. 

Debug Bar taps into the WordPress debug flags, those little signals that direct you where to go. It lays the foundation, and CMS web design service providers integrate other plugins. It helps them to extend the power of the tool. Also, it is an open-source tool.

Contextual Debugger

The Contextual Debugging Tool helps analyze web page performance. To activate it, add &_debug=true or ?_debug=true to a URL page. It shows the load times of modules with color-coded circles, highlighting slower ones.

The standout feature of the Contextual Debugging Tool is its ability to provide an instant view of various metrics and the files being rendered on a specific webpage. It is presented in the form of a heatmap. As debugging or visualizing glitches in website performance is much easier with Contextual Debugger, web development company experts leverage it.

URL Inspection Tool

The URL Inspection tool is like a detective's kit for CMS websites. It checks if the webpage would rank in Google's index. Moreover, this tool helps CMS web developers with ongoing checks for web pages. For instance, it spots changes on essential pages to find issues and decide what to fix first. If you want to know how this tool can be effective for CMS website debugging, hire dedicated web developers from the web development company.

Final Thoughts- Do You Need Assistance from a Web Development Company?

Yes, if you and your in-house team cannot handle the complex tasks of website debugging, seek assistance from an experienced web development company. Although it will be heavy on your pocket, it will be worth investing long-term.