What is a Bug Report: Definition, Types, and Best Practices

What is a Bug Report?

A bug report is a detailed record of a problem found in software. It explains what went wrong, where it happened, and under what conditions. The goal is to give developers all the information they need to identify and fix the issue quickly.

Think of it as a clear note that tells the team: “Here is the problem, here is how to see it, and here is what I expected instead.” Without this clarity, developers might spend extra time reproducing the issue or guessing what went wrong.

Bug reports are used at every stage of software development, from testing new features to monitoring live applications. Anyone who notices a problem, whether a tester, product manager, or user, can create one, making it a key tool for improving software quality.

Types of Bug Reports

Bug reports can vary depending on the problem and the context. Understanding the main types helps you write clearer reports and ensures the right team members address the issue.

1. Functional Bugs: These occur when a feature does not work as intended. For example, a login button that does not respond when clicked is a functional bug.
2. UI/UX Bugs: These relate to design or user experience issues. For example, text overlapping on a mobile screen or buttons that are hard to tap.
3. Performance Bugs: These appear when the software is slow, freezes, or consumes too many resources. For example, an app that takes too long to load a page is showing a performance issue.
4. Security Bugs: These involve vulnerabilities that could compromise data or system security. For example, being able to access restricted content without proper login credentials.
5. Compatibility Bugs: These happen when software does not work correctly across devices, browsers, or operating systems. For example, a feature that works on Chrome but fails on Safari.

Bug Report Lifecycle

A bug report does not end the moment you submit it. Each report moves through a series of steps to ensure issues are understood, prioritized, and resolved efficiently. Knowing this lifecycle helps you contribute more effectively, whether you are reporting or reviewing bugs.

1. Identification

The first step is noticing an issue. This could be a tester discovering a functional error, a user encountering a glitch, or a QA engineer observing unexpected behavior in a specific environment. Accuracy is essential. Note exactly what happens, under which conditions, and how often it occurs.

2. Logging

Once identified, the bug is recorded in a tracking system. A detailed log includes the exact steps to reproduce the issue, the environment such as browser or operating system, expected versus actual behavior, screenshots or recordings, and any relevant error messages. The more precise the information, the faster the developer can fix the issue.

3. Triage

During triage, the report is reviewed to confirm it is a valid issue. The team assigns severity, which measures the impact on users, and priority, which determines the order in which bugs should be addressed. For example, a crash affecting all users is high severity and high priority, while a minor typo on a rarely visited page is low severity and low priority.

4. Assignment

The triaged bug is assigned to the developer or team best equipped to fix it. Assignments often consider expertise, workload, and component ownership to ensure an efficient resolution.

5. Resolution

The developer implements a fix and documents the changes. This stage may involve testing in multiple environments to confirm that the fix does not introduce new issues.

6. Verification

After the fix is applied, the tester or reporter verifies that the problem is resolved and that the software behaves as expected. If the issue persists, it may be reopened with updated details.

7. Closure

Once verified, the bug report is officially closed. It is important to keep records of the report for future reference, analysis, and to identify patterns in recurring issues.

Bug Report vs Incident Report vs Feature Request

Not every problem or request in software is a bug. Understanding the difference between a bug report, an incident report, and a feature request helps you document issues correctly and ensures the team responds appropriately.

• Bug Report: A bug report documents an unintended behavior in the software. It focuses on defects that prevent the application from working as expected. For example, a “Submit” button that does not save form data is a bug. Bug reports always include steps to reproduce, the environment, expected behavior, and actual behavior.
• Incident Report: An incident report captures events that affect the system’s stability or security but may not be reproducible by design. For example, a server outage or a data breach is logged as an incident. Unlike bug reports, incidents often require immediate attention and involve operational teams rather than just developers.
• Feature Request: A feature request is a suggestion for new functionality or an improvement to existing features. For example, asking for dark mode in an app or a new report filter is a feature request. These reports are not about errors; they are about adding value to the software.

Bug Severity and Priority Classification

Not all bugs are equally urgent or impactful. Classifying bugs by severity and priority helps teams focus on what matters most and plan fixes efficiently.

Severity: Severity measures the impact of a bug on the software or user experience.

• Critical: The bug causes complete system failure or crashes that block users from completing important tasks. For example, a payment system that fails during checkout.
• Major: The bug significantly affects functionality but does not completely block operations. For example, a report feature that shows incorrect data.
• Minor: The bug causes small issues that do not affect core functionality. For example, a misaligned icon or minor text formatting errors.
• Trivial: The bug has minimal impact on usability or experience. For example, a typo in a label or tooltip.

Priority: Priority determines the order in which bugs should be addressed based on business needs, user impact, and release timelines.

• High: Bugs that must be fixed immediately, often because they affect critical functionality or a large number of users.
• Medium: Bugs that should be resolved soon but do not require immediate attention.
• Low: Bugs that can be scheduled for later releases because they have minimal impact on users or operations.

It is important to note that severity and priority are related but not always the same. A minor bug may be high priority if it affects a key feature for an upcoming release, while a major bug may be low priority if it occurs in a rarely used module. Clear classification ensures developers focus on the right issues at the right time.

How to Write a Bug Report

Writing a bug report is not just about pointing out an error. The goal is to provide developers with enough information to reproduce, understand, and fix the issue efficiently. A well-written report saves time and prevents miscommunication.

Step 1: Provide a Clear Title‍

Use a concise title that summarizes the problem. For example, “Login button does not respond on Chrome version 118.” Avoid vague titles like “Login issue.”

Step 2: Describe the Issue‍

Explain what happened in detail. Include what you expected to happen and what actually occurred. Be specific and avoid assumptions.

Step 3: List Steps to Reproduce‍

Clearly outline the actions needed to trigger the bug. Number each step so anyone can follow them easily. For example:

1. Open the app on Chrome version 118.
2. Navigate to the login page.
3. Enter valid credentials and click the login button.

Step 4: Include Environment Details‍

Mention the software version, device, operating system, and browser. This helps developers understand if the bug is environment-specific.

Step 5: Attach Evidence‍

Screenshots, screen recordings, logs, or error messages provide visual context and reduce guesswork.

Step 6: Assign Severity and Priority‍

Clearly indicate how critical the bug is and how soon it should be fixed. This ensures the development team prioritizes effectively.

BrowserStack Bug Capture allows you to report bugs directly from your device or browser with screenshots, screen recordings, and detailed environment information automatically attached. It simplifies the bug reporting process, reduces miscommunication, and helps developers reproduce and fix issues faster.

Conclusion

Effective bug reports are essential for maintaining software quality. Clear, detailed reports help developers understand issues quickly, reproduce problems accurately, and implement fixes efficiently. Following structured steps, providing evidence, and classifying bugs by severity and priority ensures that issues are resolved faster and reduces the risk of miscommunication.

BrowserStack Bug Capture makes reporting bugs even easier. It allows you to capture screenshots, screen recordings, and environment details automatically, so you can submit accurate and actionable reports in seconds.