When it comes to writing bug reports, clarity and precision are paramount. A well-written bug report serves as a communication tool between you (as the QA) and the development team, ensuring everyone is on the same page when it comes to issue resolution. Let’s go over the process and some important tips to help you write bug reports that are both effective and actionable.
1. Start with a Clear Title
The title of your bug report should be a concise summary of the issue. A good title will immediately convey the core problem to the developer or project manager. For example:
- “App crashes upon startup when logging in with invalid credentials”
- “Payment button unresponsive on the checkout page”
This title allows anyone reading it to quickly understand what the issue is about and where it might be occurring. Avoid vague titles like “Issue with app” or “Bug found”—these don’t provide enough information.
2. Describe the Issue
Once you have a clear title, you should follow it up with a detailed description. Include the following:
- Steps to Reproduce: This is critical so the developer can replicate the issue. Be clear and specific. For example:
- Go to the login page.
- Enter invalid credentials.
- Click the ‘Login’ button.
- Observe the crash.
- Expected Result: What should happen if everything works correctly.
- Actual Result: What actually happened when you tested the feature.
For example:
- Expected Result: User should receive an error message indicating invalid credentials.
- Actual Result: App crashes immediately after entering invalid credentials.
3. Add Severity and Priority
In your bug report, be sure to categorize the issue by severity and priority. This helps the team determine how urgent the fix is.
- Severity refers to how much the bug impacts the functionality of the system.
- Priority refers to how urgently the bug needs to be fixed in relation to other tasks.
Here’s a matrix that can help classify issues based on severity and priority:
Severity and Priority Matrix for Time-Sensitive Issues
| Severity | Priority | Description | Example | Response Time | Fix Timeline | Verification & Deployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical | Urgent | These are app-breaking bugs that cause the application to crash, become completely unusable, or result in severe data loss. Immediate action is required, even during weekends or after hours. | Data loss over the weekend, app crashes preventing user login, major security vulnerabilities. | Immediate response (around 1 hour) (even if it’s weekend/holiday) | Emergency fix planning (around 4–8 hours) | Verification and testing (around 24 hours) Deployment (around 24 hours) |
| Major | High | Bugs that significantly impair essential functionality or cause major disruptions to the user experience. While not as urgent as critical issues, they require attention within the day. | Payment system failure, major navigation bugs affecting user experience, critical feature malfunctions. | Initial acknowledgment (1 hour) | Fix development and testing (around 3 days) | Deployment (around 3 days) Verification and monitoring ongoing. |
| Moderate | Medium | Bugs affecting non-essential functionality that disrupt user experience but don’t stop core features. These can be handled during regular hours. | Minor UI glitches, slow response times, occasional user interface lag. | Acknowledgment and triage (around 1 day) | Development and testing (around 5 days) | Deployment (around 5 days) Verification and monitoring ongoing. |
| Minor | Low | Bugs with minimal impact, typically cosmetic or non-disruptive, that can be addressed during normal hours or in the next scheduled release. | Minor typographical errors, cosmetic design issues. | Acknowledgment and triage (around 2 days) | Development and testing (around 7 days) | Deployment (around 7 days) Verification and monitoring ongoing. |
| Enhancement/Feature Request | N/A | Suggestions for new features or improvements that don’t address existing bugs. These are scheduled based on value and feasibility. | Requests for new features or UI improvements. | Prioritized based on value and feasibility | Implementation timeline varies based on priority | Communication with PM and Product Team ongoing. |
Note: Critical/Urgent issues, such as data loss during weekends, demand immediate action because they pose a direct threat to user experience or data integrity. These cases are handled on priority, regardless of time or day.
4. Provide Additional Information
While the steps to reproduce and expected/actual results provide most of the details, there may be times when you need to provide more context:
- Screenshots/Screen Recordings: If the bug is visual, include screenshots or videos to help developers understand the issue.
- Logs: If applicable, include relevant log files to give developers insight into what’s going wrong behind the scenes.
- Environment Details: Include information about the browser, OS, device, or network conditions you were using when you encountered the bug.
5. Use Consistent Terminology
Consistency is important. When writing test cases, bug reports, and user stories, use the same terminology and format. This ensures the team can quickly identify issues and understand what needs to be done. I use a simple format for my tickets, test cases, and bug reports:
- Ticket Title: Clear and descriptive, so it’s easy to identify.
- Test Cases: Derived from the ticket’s acceptance criteria.
- Bug Reports: Same format as test cases, using clear descriptions of the issue, severity, and steps to reproduce.
This consistency means when an edge case pops up, it’s immediately clear whether it needs a new test case, bug report, or ticket. This reduces confusion and speeds up the resolution process.
Struggling to choose between a simplified or detailed QA test case design? Discover the pros and cons of each approach and find out which template can boost your testing efficiency without overwhelming your workflow.
Conclusion
Effective bug reports are crucial for ensuring a smooth workflow between the QA and development teams. By focusing on clarity, consistency, and proper classification, you’ll not only make your reports more effective but also improve the overall efficiency of the bug-fixing process. Remember, it’s all about minimizing confusion and getting the issue resolved as quickly as possible.
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Got any bug reporting tips or stories of your own? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! We’d love to hear how you write your bug reports and how they’ve helped you communicate effectively with your team. If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to share it with fellow testers or developers who might benefit!