Common software defects are a prevalent occurrence during software development. Coding errors, design flaws, or compatibility issues can cause them. Some defects can be minor and easy to fix, while others can be major and require significant changes to the software.

Defects are variations between the system’s or software application’s actual and expected results. Also, defects are any variances or irregularities from the specifications defined in the software’s functional specification document. When a developer or programmer makes a mistake during the software development phase, it results in defects, which are the outcome of errors made by the developers.

A defect in a software product symbolizes the program’s incapacity and inefficiency to satisfy the defined requirements and criteria, preventing the software application from performing the expected and intended task.

What are Common Software Defects?

Some common software defects are listed below:

Functional Defects

Functional defects occur when the software does not perform the intended function. For example, a button that saves data may not work.

Performance Defects

These defects appear when the software does not meet performance requirements. For example, a website takes a longer time to load.

Security Defects

Security defects occur when the software product has vulnerabilities and can be exploited by attackers. For example, a website that stores user passwords in plaintext.

Usability Defects

These defects arise when the software is difficult to use or understand—for example, a website with a confusing navigation menu.

Compatibility Defects

Compatibility defects occur when the software is incompatible with other system software or hardware. For example, a program only runs on Windows and not on Mac.

How to Identify and Report Common Software Defects?

As software development becomes an increasingly important part of modern business, finding defects early in the software development life cycle is essential. Thankfully, there are several ways to identify defects during the process, and knowing how to report them is equally important.

Test the Software Comprehensively

Comprehensively testing the software is the best way to identify defects. You can use manual testing, automated testing, or a cross of both. When testing the software, ensure to test all the functions of the software and try to use it with different scenarios.

Perform Code Reviews

To find defects, perform code reviews during the implementation phase. Code reviews involve a group of developers looking at the code and identifying potential problems. These reviews can help you catch defects before they become a more significant issue, and it’s an excellent way to ensure the code follows best practices. Additionally, it’s essential to do the regular maintenance check of the software, which involves checking for defects and fixing them as necessary.

Document the Defects

When you find common software defects, ensure to document them. Include information such as the steps to reproduce the defect and the expected and actual results. This documentation will help the development team to fix the defect.

Prioritize the Defects

Not all defects are equally important. Prioritize the software bugs according to their severity and relevance to the software. This will help the development team to focus on the most critical defects first..

Report the Defects

Reporting defects is an essential part of the process. Use a defect tracking tool to report the defects. Include all the necessary information, such as the description, severity, and steps to reproduce the defect.

Best Practices for Reporting Software Defects

Reporting common software defects is an essential part of the software life cycle. Here are some best practices for reporting software defects:

Be Concise

When creating defect reports, be concise and to the point. Include all the necessary and additional information, but avoid including irrelevant details.

Use a Bug Tracking Tool

Use a defect tracking tool to report defects. This tool will help you organize and prioritize the defects and help the development team track the progress of the defect resolution.

Include Screenshots or Videos

Including screenshots or videos can help to illustrate the defect and make it easier for the development team to understand.

Test the Fix for the Defect

When the development team members provide a fix for the defect, ensure to test it thoroughly to ensure that it has been resolved.

Real-world Examples of Software Defects and Their Impact on Software Quality

In the realm of software development, software defects are an unavoidable reality. Defects can still seep through the gaps and find their way into the final product, regardless of the diligent efforts of developers and quality assurance teams. Here are real-world examples of common software defects and their impact on software quality.

• Provident Financial Software Glitch in 2017

Provident Financial experienced a software bug, causing the business to fall short of its debt loan collection commitments. The business met almost half of its targets on schedule. As a result, the company’s shares slipped by 74% in a day, with the share price falling to £4.50 from £17.42

• Amazon Web Services Outage in 2017

In 2017, Amazon Web Services experienced a four-hour outage due to a software defect. The defect caused problems with the company’s Simple Storage Service (S3), resulting in some customers losing data. The outage impacted the company’s reputation and resulted in lost revenue.

• Healthcare.gov Rollout in 2013

In 2013, the rollout of Healthcare.gov, the online marketplace for health insurance, was plagued with software bugs. The website was difficult to use, and users experienced long wait times and error messages. The defects impacted the public’s perception of the Affordable Care Act and the government’s ability to enforce it.

• Knight Capital Group Trading Loss in 2012

In 2012, Knight Capital Group lost $440 million due to a software defect. The defect caused the company’s trading software to malfunction and made erroneous trades, and the incident impacted the company’s financial stability and reputation.

• Rocket Launch Errors in 1966

A European Ariane 5 rocket was planned to carry a satellite’s cargo into Earth orbit in 1996. Regrettably, the software used to launch the rocket had a fault. It resulted in the rocket straying for 37 seconds after it launched. When the rocket began to disintegrate, it self-destructed. The error was caused by reusing code from Ariane 4, the rocket’s predecessor. The disaster caused a loss of over $370 million.

How Does Our Online Software QA Testing Course Helps Students to Identify and Report Software Defects?

Reporting common software defects is crucial for successful software development, and identifying, and reporting defects ensures the software product is of high quality and meets the user’s requirements. Consider enrolling in the online QA testing course to learn more about software QA testing.

At our online software QA testing course, we teach students how to identify and report software defects effectively. Here are a few topics covered in the course:

Manual Testing

The students comprehend the concepts of how to perform manual testing effectively. This includes creating test cases, executing test cases, and documenting defects.

Automated Testing

The students learn how to use automated testing tools effectively. This includes creating test scripts, executing test scripts, and reporting defects.

Defect Tracking

The students also understand how to use bug-tracking tools effectively. This includes creating defect reports, prioritizing defects, and defect tracking the progress of defect resolution.

Transform your career with our online QA testing course with instructor-led live classes, learn how to find a minor software bug using manual to automated testing, and work on real-time projects to gain practical hands-on experience! Enroll now and become a certified QA testing expert.