Use these steps as a working checklist and adapt them to the project’s evidence, scope, and constraints.
Routes and responses
- Open the home page directly and through an internal link.
- Open every public route directly.
- Confirm an unknown route displays a useful 404 page.
- Check the final HTTP status of each important page.
- Repeat direct-route checks against the production build.
Page metadata and content
- Check for a unique title on every indexable page.
- Check descriptions for clipped or generic template text.
- Confirm each page has one clear primary heading.
- Compare canonical with the intended preferred URL.
- Check that structured data matches visible page content.
Indexing and discovery
- Confirm robots.txt is reachable and has the intended rules.
- Confirm the sitemap opens and contains only intended URLs.
- Compare hreflang sets and x-default across language alternatives.
- Follow redirect chains and look for loops.
- Confirm important pages can be reached through ordinary links.
Links, controls, and forms
- Check internal links for 404 responses and incorrect domains.
- Use the menu and language switcher with pointer and keyboard.
- Submit the form with valid and invalid values.
- Check loading, success, and error states for the form.
- Confirm consent is required wherever applicable.
Responsive layout and keyboard
- Review the page at a 320-pixel viewport width.
- Repeat at a 375-pixel viewport width.
- Check a tablet viewport and ensure there is no horizontal overflow.
- Enlarge text and confirm buttons do not overlap.
- Complete the main flow using only a keyboard.
Accessibility, privacy, and evidence
- Check field labels and accessible names for buttons.
- Review text contrast and visible focus styling.
- Confirm essential content is available without required animation.
- Ensure secrets and personal data are absent from public assets.
- Save a record with URL, time, device, expected result, and actual result.