Software Testing - Bug Report

1. Why Good Bug Reports Matter

  • Speeds up fixing — Developers spend less time guessing the problem.

  • Reduces miscommunication — Everyone sees the same clear information.

  • Avoids duplicate work — Clear reports prevent logging the same bug multiple times.

  • Improves quality tracking — Accurate records help in QA metrics.

2. Key Qualities of a Good Bug Report

  • Clear — Easy to understand without extra explanation.

  • Complete — Contains all required information.

  • Reproducible — Anyone can follow the steps and see the issue.

  • Objective — States facts, not opinions.

  • Prioritized — Clearly indicates urgency and impact.

3. Structure of a Good Bug Report

1. Bug ID

  • Unique identifier (usually auto-generated by the defect tracking tool).

2. Title (Summary)

  • Short and specific.

  • Example:

    • Bad: "App not working"

    • Good: "Login button unresponsive on Chrome v118 (Windows 11)"

3. Description

  • Brief explanation of what’s wrong and why it’s a problem.

4. Steps to Reproduce

  • Numbered, clear steps.

  • Example:

    1. Open Chrome v118 on Windows 11.
2. Navigate to https://app.example.com/login.
3. Enter valid credentials.
4. Click the "Login" button.

5. Expected Result

  • What should happen.

    • Example: User should be redirected to the dashboard.

6. Actual Result

  • What actually happens.

    • Example: Nothing happens; the page stays on the login screen.

7. Environment

  • OS, browser, device, app version, network type.

    • Example: Windows 11, Chrome 118, App v2.5.1, Wi-Fi network.

8. Severity & Priority

  • Severity: How badly it affects functionality (Critical, High, Medium, Low).

  • Priority: Urgency for fixing (P1, P2, P3…).

9. Attachments

  • Screenshots, screen recordings, error logs.

  • Helps developers visualize the problem quickly.

10. Additional Notes

  • Any extra details, patterns, or related issues.

4. Example of a Well-Written Bug Report

Bug ID: #4521
Title: "Login button unresponsive on Chrome v118 (Windows 11)"
Description: Clicking the Login button after entering valid credentials does nothing. User remains on the login page.

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open Chrome v118 on Windows 11.
2. Navigate to https://app.example.com/login.
3. Enter valid credentials ([email protected] / Test@123).
4. Click the "Login" button.

Expected Result:
User should be redirected to the dashboard.

Actual Result:
Page remains on the login screen. No error message is displayed.

Environment:
- OS: Windows 11
- Browser: Chrome 118
- App Version: v2.5.1
- Network: Wi-Fi

Severity: High
Priority: P1

Attachments:
- Screenshot: login_issue.png
- Video: login_issue.mp4
- Console log: login_error.log

Notes:
Issue started after latest deployment on Aug 10, 2025.

5. Best Practices

  • Be specific — Avoid vague terms like "sometimes" or "rarely".

  • One bug per report — Don’t combine multiple issues into one.

  • Verify before logging — Check if it’s reproducible and not already reported.

  • Stay neutral — Avoid blame or emotional language.

  • Update the report — Add new findings if they help debugging.

If you want, I can make you a bug report template in a ready-to-use format (Word/Excel) so you can just fill it in when reporting issues. That way, all your bug reports stay consistent and professional.