Top Common Types of Bugs in Software Testing

No program or code is perfect from the get-go, even if it is created by the most knowledgeable developer. And the software testing process is inevitably connected to finding and eliminating those numerous bugs. Luckily, certain bugs can be classified into separate categories.

Classifying bugs and learning about each category will truly pay off, as you will be able to locate defects much quicker and easier. In addition, it will become possible to prioritize fixing bugs based on their severity.

In this article, you will learn about the most common types of software bugs, which specialists face and fix every day.

Severity of software bugs

Even though software bugs are very diverse and new issues continue to appear, QA specialists believe that there are several common classes software testing companies encounter every day. All software defects can be categorized by their nature and severity. The severity of bugs determines the priority of fixing each issue. These defects can be detected during static or dynamic software testing. Static testing can prevent numerous bugs, and it is cheaper to find and fix them at the earliest development stage. However, dynamic testing allows solving more severe issues. Here are the levels of impact that bugs can have on your code from the least to most severe:

• Low. Bugs of this kind have the smallest impact on your program. These are such trivial issues as grammar errors, wrong colors, slightly inaccurate sizes of objects, etc.
• Minor. These bugs are not drastic but can interfere with user experience to some extent. UI issues usually fall into this group.
• High. Certain parts of the program are malfunctioning because of the high impact from the bugs, but overall, it is still usable.
• Critical. These bugs interfere with the security of your program, which is why experienced testers recommend solving such issues as soon as possible. Key features of the app or program can crash.
• Block. It is the most severe bug type, as it shuts down the program completely and prevents further testing.

As you can see, there are quite a variety of bugs based on their severity. The most severe defects should be your main priority, although even the smallest bugs have to be fixed too. UI testing, for instance, plays a huge role as well since it facilitates a positive user experience.

The most common software bugs

Even though software bugs are so diverse and new issues continue to appear, there are several common classes that software testing companies encounter every day.

Functionality bugs

In case a certain part of your program, app, or website does not operate the way it is intended to, you are facing a functional bug. For example, if a certain button on your webpage simply does not work or does things it should not do, you should test its functionality. Web application testing services usually deal with these defects. You can learn more about this in the testing & QA blog and ask for advice from experienced specialists at TestFort by the link https://testfort.com.

Performance bugs

Software defects of this type affect the stability of your site or program, its response time, general speed, etc. Such bugs should be discovered easily during the performance testing stage. In case your software operates slower than intended or some of its processes are not as responsive as planned, this is the influence of a performance defect.

Compatibility bugs

Compatibility issues prevent your software from functioning correctly on certain devices, operating systems, in various browsers, as well as after being integrated with other digital solutions. One of the most common compatibility bugs is simply the font size. It might look as intended in one browser and display differently in another, or it can be readable on PC but incoherent on mobiles.

Security bugs

Security issues are definitely among the top-priority bugs. Not only can they have a huge negative impact on software behavior but also cause vulnerabilities. There is a possibility of being attacked because of security bugs, and all parties using the program fall under the risk. Data theft that might occur due to security breaches can cost millions to a company. This is why such defects should be localized and taken care of immediately.

Syntax bugs

This is the inevitable bug type, as it concerns the code itself. It is nearly impossible to write a perfectly correct code on the first try since there are always at least a few misspellings due to human error. In case you misspell a single character/digit or miss a bracket, you will have a syntax bug on your hands. Such minor bugs can be fixed by examining your code and rewriting it properly.

Final thoughts

Facing bugs and errors during software development is natural. This is why thorough and professional bug testing is so important. Knowing the main types of software defects will save you a lot of time and money, as these bugs will be discovered and taken care of quickly and painlessly.