Defect is a problem appearing in the software. It is also a comparison between what was expected and the actual results. It is an app’s inefficiency to meet the specific requirements and prevent the software from working as it is expected to. Since testing is only carried out to trace the defects present in an app, testers need to be careful about different types of defects. While understanding the defects helps testers in identifying and locating different defects easily.
Different Defect Categories
Defect management has evolved from simple excel sheets to a proper software system. Testers also use defect management tools to assist them during the defect management process. There are different types of defects that are detected in a system based on functionality, performance or interface. Defects are also divided into categories according to their severity. Severity means the degree at which a defect impacts the software app. Defects are divided into four categories when it comes to their severity, namely critical, major, minor and trivial.
Let’s discuss the various types of defects that software tester should be aware of:
Functionality Defects:
One of the most important features of any software app is to function as it is intended to. This is what functionality defects are all about. For instance, if a command ‘submit’ is tapped on an app, it is expected to record the information entered. If it fails to do so, it means there is a problem in its functionality.
Communication Defects:
These defects occur while the software is unable to communicate with the end-users. All information that should be visible to the users, should be provided on the screen by the software automatically.
For instance, if a ‘save’ button is pressed, then it should automatically save the document or details entered in the required fields. Apps usually do not come with instructions but they should have features and menus that are self-explanatory.
Missing Command Defects:
Too often, developers miss out on providing commands for end-users usability. For instance, users may have an option to create a new file, but no options to exit from the window without creating one. Since a ‘cancel’ button is not provided they may have a missing command.
Error Handling Defects:
Any error that appears while a user is interacting with the software app needs to be handled properly. If there is a mandatory field missing, it should pop up a message to indicate it to the users. However, if there is no indication, then users may not be aware that they entered incomplete information.
Control Flow Defects:
The control flow defines what a software app will do next on certain conditions. For example, where a user is filling in a form and it has options to either ‘Save’, ‘Save and Close’, and ‘Cancel’. When a user clicks on the ‘Save and Close’ button, it should save the data and close it. If clicking this button does not close the form, then it is considered a control flow defect.
