Defect Classification
Defect classification involves
categorizing the defects discovered during the software testing process based
on various factors. This helps in understanding the defect trends, prioritizing
the defects for fixing, and improving the software development and testing
processes.
Common ways to classify defects
include:
- Severity: This indicates the impact of the
defect on the functionality of the software. The typical classifications based
on severity are:
- Critical: The defect causes a complete shutdown of
the system or major loss of service.
- High: The defect causes significant functional
loss, but the system can still operate.
- Medium: The defect causes some functional loss,
which is tolerable and the system can still function.
- Low: The defect has minimal impact on the system’s
functionality.
- Priority: This refers to the order in which
the defects should be fixed. The typical classifications based on priority
are:
- Urgent: The defect needs to be fixed immediately.
- High: The defect needs to be fixed as soon as
possible.
- Medium: The defect can be fixed in the normal
course of development and testing.
- Low: The defect can be deferred until all other
defects have been fixed.
- Defect Type: This refers to the nature of
the defect. Some common defect types include:
- Functional: The defect is related to the
functionality of the software.
- Performance: The defect is related to the
performance of the software (speed, response time, resource usage, etc.).
- Usability: The defect affects the usability of the
software.
- Security: The defect affects the security of the
software.
- Defect Origin: This refers to the phase of
the software development lifecycle in which the defect was introduced. It
can help identify which phases of the lifecycle need improvement.
By categorizing defects in this
manner, teams can better manage their resources and prioritize their testing
and development efforts.
Defect Management Process.
Defect management is a critical
aspect of software development and testing. It involves the process of
detecting, recording, and resolving defects. Here is a typical defect
management process:
- Defect Identification: This is the first
step where testers identify a defect during the testing phase. They
determine that the software is not performing as expected.
- Defect Logging: Once a defect is identified,
it is logged in a defect tracking system. Important details like the
description of the defect, the steps to reproduce it, severity, priority,
module where it was found, etc., are recorded.
- Defect Review: The logged defect is then
reviewed to confirm its validity. Sometimes, it may not be a defect but a
misunderstanding of the requirement by the tester or it could be a
duplicate of an existing defect.
- Defect Assignment: Once the defect is
reviewed and confirmed, it is assigned to a developer to fix. The
developer gets the details from the defect tracking system.
- Defect Fixing: The developer works on the
defect, modifies the code and checks it back into the source code
repository.
- Re-testing: After the code is fixed, it goes
back to testing where the tester re-tests to ensure that the original
defect is indeed fixed and has not resulted in other parts of the software
breaking.
- Defect Closure: If the tester finds the
solution satisfactory, the defect is closed.
- Defect Tracking: Throughout the lifecycle of
the defect, it is tracked from discovery to closure. Tracking helps to
provide a history of defects which can be used to improve processes,
predict project completion, or investigate recurring problems.
- Reporting: Regular reports are prepared and
shared with the project team to provide an overview of defect status and
trends.
Effective defect management leads
to timely resolution of defects, thereby improving the quality of the software
and ultimately leading to a successful project.