How To Write A Good Bug Report?

To write a good bug report in software testing/development, include a brief title, detailed problem explanation, steps to reproduce, system environment details, expected and actual behavior, attachments (screenshots/logs), bug severity evaluation, and any additional notes for efficient communication and problem-solving.

1. Title/Bug ID

For ease of tracking and reference, the title or Bug ID provides a succinct identification of the problem. The solution should offer a concise overview of the issue, enabling quick comprehension. When working on large-scale projects where multiple issues may develop, it is especially helpful to organize and categorize bugs with a unique Bug ID.

2. Environment

The environment section contains important information about the setup of the system where the error happened. The physical specifications, software version, operating system, browser type, version, and any other pertinent configurations are included in this. Determining the environment’s compliance with various setups and helping developers reproduce the error are all made easier by knowing what to look for on the platform.

When reporting the bug, they must specify if the bug is observed in one or more specific environments. Use the template below for specificity:

1. Device Type: Hardware and particular model of the device.
2. OS: Name and version of the operating system.
3. Examiner: The tester’s name who found the error.
4. Software Version: The software version in which the bug first surfaced and is being tested.
5. Connection Strength: During testing, indicate whether the bug depends on a 4G, 3G, WiFi, or Ethernet internet connection.
6. Rate of Reproduction: The quantity of times the bug has been replicated, together with the precise procedures each time.

3. Steps to Reproduce a Bug

This section describes the precise steps or inputs needed to consistently cause the problem. It is important to provide developers with a clear and chronological description of each step so they can correctly duplicate the issue. Giving thorough instructions facilitates the debugging process and aids in identifying the bug’s primary cause, resulting in faster fixes.

4. Expected Result

This section of the bug report explains the intended behavior of the software in the specified situation. The intended outcomes provide the developer with information about the requirements. This helps in their assessment of how much the bug is interfering with the user experience. It specifies how the system ought to react to the operations specified in the reproducibility phases. With the use of this data, developers may better diagnose and fix bugs by comparing the expected functionality with the real behavior seen when the issue arises.

5. Actual Result

The “Actual Result” section of a bug report documents the software’s behavior when the bug occurs, highlighting deviations from expected behavior and explaining observed results in detail. This detailed explanation helps developers spot differences and assess the severity of the problem, leading to more focused troubleshooting and solution efforts.

6. Visual Proof of Bug

Include physical evidence of the bug’s presence by including visual proof, such as images or videos. Visual aids give more context and clarity, especially when it comes to problems involving graphical elements or user interfaces. Screenshots can help developers visualize issues and speed up the debugging process by highlighting error messages, unusual behavior, or inconsistencies.

7. Bug Severity

The Bug Severity section categorizes a bug’s impact on software functioning and performance into levels such as critical, major, minor, and cosmetic, aiding in prioritizing bug fixes based on importance and urgency. Factors like frequency, impact extent, and potential repercussions for users or system operations inform severity ratings, optimizing resource allocation and ensuring major issues receive prompt attention while minor ones can be addressed later in development cycles. Each bug requires a severity rating and corresponding priority to indicate its impact and urgency for correction.

Bug Severity Levels:

1. Low: The bug won’t cause any obvious system failures. Minor: The bug causes some unexpected or undesirable behavior, but not enough to interfere with system operation.
2. Major: A flaw that could cause the system to collapse in substantial portions
3. Important: Error that could cause the entire system to shut down

Bug Priority Levels:

1. Low: The bug might be resolved in the future. Priority goes to other, more critical bugs.
2. Medium: A bug can be resolved during standard testing and development.
3. High: The bug needs to be fixed right away since it negatively impacts the system and prevents it from being used until it is fixed.

A well-written bug report is essential in software testing to facilitate effective communication between testers and developers, leading to improved program quality and user satisfaction. This article explores the key practices for writing thorough bug reports, helping in quick issue identification and resolution.