Key Elements of a Good Bug Report
- Clear and Descriptive Title
- Example: ❌ “Page not working” → ✅ “Checkout page crashes when applying discount code”
- Steps to Reproduce
- Step-by-step instructions that anyone (even a new developer) can follow.
- Keep it simple and numbered.
- Expected vs. Actual Result
- Expected: “User should be able to apply discount and see updated total.”
- Actual: “System crashes and shows error 500.”
- Environment Details
- Browser, OS, App version, Test environment (UAT/Prod).
- Example: “Chrome 128, Windows 11, UAT server.”
- Attachments (Screenshots/Logs/Video)
- Visual proof speeds up debugging.
- Screen recordings are great for complex flows.
- Severity and Priority
- Severity → Impact on the system (Critical, Major, Minor).
- Priority → Order of fixing (High, Medium, Low).
- Reproducibility
- Mention if it happens always or intermittently.
🔹 Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Writing vague titles (“Error on page”).
- Skipping reproduction steps.
- Forgetting environment details.
- Mixing multiple issues in one report.
🔹 Example of a Good Bug Report
Title: “Checkout page crashes when applying discount code (UAT)”
Steps to Reproduce:
- Login with valid credentials.
- Add product X to cart.
- Proceed to checkout.
- Apply discount code “SAVE10”.
- Expected Result: Discount applies and total updates.
- Actual Result: Page crashes with error 500.
- Environment: Chrome 128, Windows 11, UAT.
- Severity: Critical
- Priority: High
- Attachment: [Screenshot/Video]
🔹 Conclusion
- Wrap up by emphasizing that a good bug report is not just about finding defects — it’s about clear communication.
- Encourage testers to think like developers when writing bug reports: “If I were fixing this bug, what information would I need?”