Defect Life Cycle Tutorial
Introduction to Defect Life Cycle
The Defect Life Cycle, also known as the Bug Life Cycle, is the process that a defect goes through from the moment it is identified until it is resolved. Understanding this life cycle is essential for effective defect management and ensuring high software quality.
Stages of the Defect Life Cycle
The Defect Life Cycle typically consists of several stages. Each stage represents a different phase in the handling of a defect. Here are the primary stages:
- 1. New: The defect is identified and logged in the defect tracking system.
- 2. Assigned: The defect is assigned to a developer for investigation and resolution.
- 3. Open: The developer has started working on the defect.
- 4. Fixed: The developer has resolved the defect, and the fix is ready for testing.
- 5. Retest: The testing team verifies that the defect has been fixed.
- 6. Closed: The defect has been verified as fixed and is closed in the tracking system.
- 7. Reopened: If the defect persists after retesting, it is reopened for further work.
Detailed Explanation of Each Stage
1. New
When a tester discovers a defect, they document it with all required details (description, severity, steps to reproduce, etc.) and mark it as 'New' in the system.
2. Assigned
Once logged, the defect is assigned to a developer or a team who will be responsible for fixing it. This step ensures accountability.
3. Open
The developer begins analyzing the defect and works towards understanding the root cause. They may communicate with the tester for further clarification.
4. Fixed
After the developer believes they have resolved the issue, they change the status to 'Fixed'. This indicates that the defect is ready for retesting.
5. Retest
The testing team verifies that the defect has been adequately fixed. They execute the test cases to ensure the issue no longer exists.
6. Closed
If the retesting confirms the defect is fixed, it is marked as 'Closed'. This signifies that no further action is required on this defect.
7. Reopened
If the defect is found to still exist after being marked as fixed, it is reopened. This indicates that the issue requires additional investigation and fixing.
Example Scenario
Consider a scenario where a user reports that the "Login" button on a web application does not respond. The tester logs a defect as follows:
This defect goes through the above stages: it is assigned to a developer, marked as open while being fixed, and finally retested. If it passes the testing, it will be closed; otherwise, it will be reopened.
Conclusion
Understanding the Defect Life Cycle is crucial for improving the quality of software products. By effectively navigating through each stage, teams can ensure that defects are managed efficiently, leading to a smoother development process and higher customer satisfaction.