How To Inspect Element On Mobile?

With the rapid advancement of technology, web development has become an indispensable part of our lives. As websites and web applications continue to evolve, developers constantly strive to create visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces. To achieve this, they often use a technique called “Inspect Element” to analyze and modify web pages.

How To Inspect Element On Mobile?

As mobile devices become the primary means of accessing the internet for many users, it is crucial for web developers to ensure that their websites and web applications are optimized for mobile viewing.

Inspecting web elements on mobile devices enables developers to analyze structure, fix responsive design issues, test varied screen sizes/orientations, and make real-time modifications to enhance appearance and functionality. By inspecting elements on mobile, developers can ensure that their websites and web applications provide a seamless and engaging experience to mobile users.

While inspecting elements on desktop browsers has been a common practice, inspecting elements on mobile devices has gained increasing popularity with the growing use of smartphones and tablets. In this article, we will delve into the world of mobile web development and unveil the secrets of how to inspect elements on mobile devices.

Challenges Of Inspecting Element On Mobile

Inspecting elements on mobile devices comes with its own set of challenges compared to inspecting elements on desktop browsers. Here are some of the key challenges that developers may encounter when inspecting elements on mobile:

1. Limited Screen Space

Mobile screens are significantly smaller compared to desktop screens, which means that the available screen space for inspecting elements may be limited. This can make it challenging to navigate and interact with the inspection tools and view the elements clearly.

2. Touchscreen Interface

Mobile devices rely on touchscreens for user interaction, which can be less precise and more cumbersome compared to using a mouse or trackpad on desktop browsers. This can make it challenging to accurately select and interact with elements using the touch screen.

3. Different Browser Rendering Engines

Mobile devices often use different browser rendering engines compared to desktop browsers, which can result in differences in the way web pages are rendered and displayed. This can make it challenging to accurately inspect and modify elements on mobile devices, as the rendering may not always be consistent across different devices and browsers.

4. Device-Specific Issues

Mobile devices come in various screen sizes, resolutions, and orientations, which can result in device-specific issues with responsive design, layout, and element positioning. Inspecting elements on mobile devices requires understanding and addressing these device-specific issues, which can be time-consuming and complex.

Despite these challenges, inspecting elements on mobile devices can be a powerful tool for web developers to optimize their websites and web applications for mobile viewing. With the right techniques and tools, developers can overcome these challenges and efficiently inspect elements on mobile devices.

How-To Inspect Element On Mobile

Now that we have discussed the importance of inspecting elements on mobile devices and the challenges involved, let’s dive into a step-by-step tutorial on how to inspect element on mobile devices. We will focus on the two most popular mobile operating systems – Android and iOS – and provide instructions for inspecting elements on mobile using the built-in developer tools in popular mobile browsers.

1. Inspect Element On Android

Android is the most widely used mobile operating system, and inspecting elements on Android devices can be done using the Google Chrome browser, which is also the most popular mobile browser.

1. Install Google Chrome on your Android device (if not already installed) and open it.
2. Navigate to the web page that you want to inspect.
3. Tap the Three-Dot Menu icon in the top-right corner of the browser window to open the Chrome menu.
4. From the menu, select Developer Tools and then Inspect. This will open the Chrome Developer Tools panel at the bottom of the screen.
5. You will see a number of tabs on the Developer Tools panel, including Elements, Console, Sources, etc. To begin exploring web page elements, tap the Elements
6. Simply tap on an element to pick it, and the Elements tab of the Developer Tools panel will display the matching HTML markup and CSS styles linked to that element.
7. To examine how the changes influence the look and functioning of the website on mobile devices, you can also make changes directly to the HTML Markup and CSS Styles of the selected element in the Elements tab. On your Android device, for instance, you may alter an element’s text content, color, font size, etc., and see the changes immediately.
8. Simply press on the arrows next to the elements in the Elements tab to go around the DOM tree and examine nested elements. Additionally, you can rapidly locate and choose particular web page elements by using the Search Box found in the Elements tab.
9. To exit the Developer Tools panel when you’ve completed analyzing and altering items, tap on the X symbol in the top-right corner of the panel.

2. Inspect Element On iOS

iOS is the operating system used in Apple devices such as iPhones and iPads, and inspecting elements on iOS devices can be done using the Safari browser, which is the default browser on iOS devices.

1. If you are using an iOS device, open Safari on your iPhone or iPad
2. Using the navigational tools go to the website you want to see
3. Tap the Share button at the top of the screen on iPads and iPhones,
4. Swipe Right and choose the More icon to access the Web Inspector
5. Toggle the switch next to Web Inspector to make it active.
6. Open Safari on your Mac after using a USB cord to connect your iOS device to the computer.
7. Open Safari on your Mac and access the Develop From the list of compatible devices, choose your iOS device. If required, enable the Develop option in Safari’s settings.
8. After selecting your iOS device in Safari on your Mac, a list of the active Safari tabs on your device will be displayed. Choose the tab corresponding to the website you wish to examine.
9. This will open the Safari Web Inspector Panel on the Mac, which allows you to inspect and modify elements on the web page displayed on your iOS device.
10. To pick and interact with items on the web page, utilize the items tab in the Safari Web Inspector panel, which is similar to analyzing elements on Android. In order to see the changes on your iOS device, you may also alter the HTML Markup and CSS Styles of the chosen element in real-time.
11. Simply click on the arrows next to the elements in the Elements tab to go around the DOM tree and see nested elements. Additionally, you can rapidly locate and choose particular web page elements by using the Search Box found in the Elements tab.
12. To conclude your review and modifications in the Safari Web Inspector panel on your Mac, simply click the X located at the top-left corner of the panel.
13. Once done, on your iOS device, navigate to the Share options and disable the Web Inspector by toggling off the switch next to the Web Inspector option.

FAQ’s

Can I Use Other Browsers Besides Chrome And Safari To Inspect Elements On Mobile Devices?

You can analyze items on mobile devices using built-in developer tools in certain other browsers, yes. For instance, Firefox’s “WebIDE” developer tools may be used to examine items on Android phones and tablets. Nevertheless, the procedure and steps may differ significantly based on the browser you are using.

Can I Modify Elements Permanently On A Live Website Using The Inspect Element Feature?

No, the changes you make using the inspect element feature are temporary and only affect your current browsing session. When you refresh the web page or close the browser, the changes will be lost, and the web page will revert to its original state. If you want to make permanent changes to a website, you will need to have access to the website’s source code and make modifications directly in the HTML and CSS files.

Is It Ethical To Modify Elements On A Live Website Using The Inspect Element Feature?

Modifying elements on a live website using the inspect element feature for malicious purposes, such as defacing a website or stealing sensitive information, is unethical and illegal. However, using the inspect element feature for educational purposes or for debugging and testing website changes on your own website or on websites that you have permission to modify is generally considered ethical.

Can I Use The Inspect Element Feature On Mobile Devices For Mobile App Development?

The inspect element feature is specifically designed for inspecting and modifying elements on web pages, and it may not be applicable for mobile app development, which typically involves building native apps using different technologies and tools. However, some hybrid app frameworks, such as Apache Cordova, allow you to build mobile apps using web technologies, and in such cases, you may be able to use the inspect element feature for debugging and testing purposes.

Are There Any Limitations Or Differences In Inspecting Elements On Mobile Devices Compared To Desktop Or Laptop Computers?

Yes, there are some limitations and differences in inspecting elements on mobile devices compared to desktop or laptop computers. Mobile devices have smaller screens, touch-based interfaces, and different input methods, which may affect the user experience and usability of the inspect element feature.

In addition, some mobile browsers may have limited support for certain developer tools or may have slightly different user interfaces compared to desktop browsers. Therefore, it is important to familiarize yourself with the specific features and limitations of the inspect element feature on mobile devices when using it for web development purposes.

Conclusion

Inspecting elements on mobile devices can be a valuable skill for web developers, as it allows us to understand and modify the HTML markup and CSS styles of web pages on mobile platforms. In this article, we provided a step-by-step guide on how to inspect elements on Android and iOS devices using the built-in developer tools in the Chrome and Safari browsers, respectively. By following the instructions outlined in this article, you can now confidently inspect and modify elements on mobile web pages, enabling you to better understand and optimize the appearance and functionality of websites on mobile devices.