Every tester is aware of the reason for creating bug reports and when they should be created. If you aren’t, we’ll try to remind you.

[highlight dark=”no”]So bug reports should be created each time a new defect is found in software.[/highlight]

Errors can be found during test execution, from automated tests to exploratory tests.

They can be also found when a new feature is being implemented.

In the worst case, users will find them and complain.

Obviously, if there is some issue (or issues), you should try to fix it but sometimes not all unfixed defects (errors, bugs, malfunctions) are really serious.

Sometimes a user who has reported an issue doesn’t understand the way the functionality should work. Frequently, a user meets the environment that has been configured improperly.

A project team member (a tester or a developer) who has found a bug or received feedback from a user should perform some tests to verify that the bug really exists in a software structure.

[highlight dark=”no”]But rapid tests should be done instantly when the context still exists.[/highlight]

If a defect is really serious, not a user’s misunderstanding, an analyst (tester) should find this issue in ready bug reports. Since someone could meet this issue before.

Defects can also appear after they have been fixed.

Adding new data to bug reports is a good practice, in comparison with creating duplicates.

But what should we do if an issue is not completely clear? If you are not able to understand the bug’s type, you should ask your colleagues to help you.

You can ask, for example: “Is this correct? What may be the reason for a such system’s behavior? May something be done incorrectly?”

If you simply create numerous bug reports, a team will consequently be unable to pay attention to really serious issues.

Only small investigations can show a user’s intentions and in most cases, they help a team avoid additional and unnecessary work.

[highlight dark=”no”]But obviously, if you are not sure if there is a need to create bug reports, you should create them anyway.[/highlight] A small number of false-positive results are better than a risk to have real technical issues.

Why are bug reports so crucial?

When a team of testers finds a defect during software testing, they must create a bug report on it.

If a team is small, the defect can be simply discussed but still, recording it in documents helps to optimize the integrity of the overall process of software development.

Any written report is an artifact in some way and needs to be fixed.

1. Every bug report automatically creates feedback for a project team of software developers;
2. A report should contain all details regarding a bug in one place;
3. A report can be easily tracked inside a project management tool;
4. Reports can be prioritized in regard to other tasks;
5. A report includes the overall history of the bug’s appearance and lifecycle.

Only bug reports help to make the bugs fixed. They can attract attention to defects since they can be hardly ignored or missed.

How should we work with a bug report?

The answer is very simple — it should be done professionally. What does it mean? Let’s talk about this.

[highlight dark=”no”]A bug report should contain as many details as possible.[/highlight]

A typical bug report is a form of communication between colleagues.

If an issue is not thoroughly described, the lack of information won’t help in fixing primary issues and doing the tasks.

Give only useful information to help those who have not met such a bug understand it and try to fix it.

[highlight dark=”no”]A bug report’s prioritization is the most important thing.[/highlight] If you have found a bug, you should definitely study it.

If you believe that someone’s point of view will help you to understand the defect’s nature, ask for it.

If you have to work with several bug reports, instantly prioritize them, do all work and report the results.

Don’t ignore the defects and don’t let them store in a bug report’s body for weeks.

[highlight dark=”no”]A bug report should become history for you.[/highlight]

Defects are usually unexpected and surprising.

Bug report’s data may be reported incompletely or even incorrectly since they represent only possible user assumptions about a bug.

Any artifact of a bug report is in some way an active file where you can add data or make updates during the work.

Working with bug reports is very important to make a project team work as efficiently as possible.

The information that is properly recorded helps to save a lot of time that could be spent on unnecessary attempts to reproduce a defect or fix it.