Mar 17, 2025
Strategies
Common website bugs and how to fix them
Luca Moretti
Lead Software Engineer
Cross-Browser Compatibility Issues
Web elements that look perfect in Chrome might break in Safari or Edge. These bugs typically result from inconsistent CSS rendering, JavaScript differences, or outdated browser versions. Use cross-browser testing tools like BrowserStack or LambdaTest to catch these issues early, and rely on standardized CSS/JS practices and polyfills for better compatibility.
Slow Page Load Times
Performance bugs like large images, unoptimized scripts, or excessive HTTP requests can slow down your site. Use performance auditing tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or Lighthouse to identify bottlenecks. Optimize assets, enable lazy loading, use caching, and implement a content delivery network (CDN) to speed things up.
Encourage Cross-Team Communication
Standardize Bug Reporting Formats
Centralize Bug Information
Involve Stakeholders in the Loop
Link Bugs to Features and Releases
Responsive Design Failures
Elements that don’t adapt properly to different screen sizes can ruin the mobile experience. These bugs often stem from missing breakpoints, fixed-width elements, or poorly structured layouts. Use CSS media queries, fluid grids, and flexible images to build a fully responsive design—and test on various devices regularly.
“Efficient bug tracking empowers development teams to quickly identify, prioritize, and resolve issues and maximizing productivity.”
JavaScript Errors and Console Warnings
Uncaught JavaScript errors can break interactivity on a site, such as buttons, modals, or dynamic forms. Use browser DevTools to identify the source of the error in the console. Fixing them usually involves debugging event listeners, checking for null values, or resolving library version conflicts.
Forms that don't validate correctly or fail to submit can block user engagement. These bugs can be caused by missing validation rules, incorrect input types, or server-side issues. Ensure both client-side and server-side validation is in place, and clearly communicate errors to users through helpful messages.
Content Overlapping or Layout Breaks
Sometimes text or images overlap, especially on smaller screens or in dynamic content areas. These visual bugs can be due to rigid containers, absolute positioning, or overflowing elements. Use relative units, flexible containers, and CSS overflow handling to avoid layout issues.
Improper meta tags can negatively affect SEO and social media sharing. Common mistakes include missing title tags, duplicate descriptions, or incorrect Open Graph tags. Use SEO audit tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to identify issues, and ensure every page includes optimized, unique meta data to improve discoverability and link previews.
