Finding a bug is one thing, but documenting it is just as important, if not more so. That’s why we want to share how to write the ideal bug report, from the format to giving you our bug report template.
Bug reporting demonstrates a development issue and gives your developers a place to start fixing it. Writing a 10-page report on what you discover may be tempting, but we’ve found that the simpler and more succinct your bug report is, the better you’ll be in the long run.
As always, stick to our version of the tried-and-true KISS method (Keep It Simple, Stupid), and remember, there’s only one goal – you’ve found a bug, and now it’s time to put that bug in a conveniently sized jar. We’ll show you what our “jar” looks like.
Encountering bugs and issues is a common occurrence in software development. Writing detailed high-quality bug reports is crucial for getting these problems diagnosed and fixed efficiently. This guide will teach you how to create bug reports that provide the necessary details for developers to resolve coding errors and other defects quickly.
What is a Bug Report?
A bug report, also known as a defect report documents a problem or flaw within a software system. It describes how the application is failing or behaving unexpectedly.
Well-written reports enable developers to reproduce the defect and identify its root cause so they can fix it A good bug report minimizes back and forth to gather more information – providing all relevant details upfront
Steps for Writing Complete Bug Reports
Follow these best practices when writing a bug report:
Write a Descriptive Title
The title should summarize the issue in a few words. For example “Login fails with invalid credentials error” or “Home page images not displaying on mobile site.”
Avoid vague titles like “Problem with login.” The title helps developers prioritize which bugs to tackle first.
Describe the Problem
Explain the bug in 1-2 sentences. Provide details on exactly what went wrong and how the application deviated from expected behavior.
For instance, “Login fails with invalid credentials error even after entering valid username and password.”
Include Screenshots and Visual Details
Add annotated screenshots and screen recordings depicting the bug, especially for visual defects. Circle or point out the problematic areas. Screenshots help developers understand and visualize the issue.
Outline Step-by-Step Reproduction
List the exact steps taken to trigger the bug. Be specific about what was clicked on, data entered, and the sequence. Enabling developers to reliably reproduce it makes fixing much easier.
For example:
- Navigated to www.example.com
- Entered username “testuser” and password “testpass123”
- Clicked the blue “Login” button
- Red error message appeared at top: “Invalid credentials, please try again”
Note Expected vs Actual Results
Describe what you expected to see vs what actually occurred when following the reproduction steps. For instance:
“Expected the user dashboard page to display after successful login. Instead got an error and remained on login page.”
This context helps developers understand the appropriate functionality.
Specify Environment Details
Provide relevant context like:
- Browser name and version
- Operating system and version
- Device type and specs if on mobile
- App version where bug appears
- Any extensions or third-party integrations in use
This helps developers determine if the bug only occurs under certain conditions.
Include Debug Information
For front-end issues, provide browser console logs. For backend bugs, add API response codes and error messages. Include database queries and sample records if relevant.
Logs and debugging data contain useful clues for identifying the root cause of the defect.
Attach Other Files
Include files like documents or datasets that induce the error when uploaded or processed by the system. This gives developers real examples to test with.
Write Clearly and Professionally
Use clear language suitable for a professional context. Organize sections with headers and lists. Ensure sufficient details without excessive wordiness. The report should help not hinder the repair process.
Best Practices for Effective Bug Reporting
Follow these practices to produce high-quality, useful bug reports:
-
Report bugs immediately – Don’t let too much time pass before documentation to avoid forgetting details.
-
Isolate the problem – Include only details essential to reproducing the particular defect. Avoid vague or ambiguous descriptions that complicate analysis.
-
Check for duplicates – Review existing bug reports before submitting to avoid redundancy. Reference similar issues if relevant.
-
Be objective – Describe only factual observations and relevant technical details. Don’t include subjective reactions or opinions.
-
Use screenshots judiciously – Include screenshots and recordings where helpful but don’t go overboard. They should supplement the text.
-
Be polite yet firm – Adopt a constructive, professional tone. Politely insist if more urgency is required.
-
Follow up appropriately – Check in if a bug persists across releases, but avoid excessive nagging. Allow reasonable repair time.
Bug Tracking Systems
Specialized bug tracking tools like Jira, Bugzilla and Asana help streamline the defect documentation and resolution workflow. Their features include:
- Centralized dashboards to view bug status
- Tracking bug priority and severity
- Linking duplicate issues
- Associating bug reports with software releases
- Automated workflows and reminders
- Integrations with source code repositories
Bug trackers enable collaborative bug reporting between testers, developers and product managers.
The Importance of Bug Reporting
Thorough bug reporting is invaluable for:
-
Identifying new software requirements
-
Improving user experience
-
Increasing stability and performance
-
Reducing security vulnerabilities
-
Minimizing budget overruns caused by defective code
-
Promoting transparency between customers and developers
-
Building product quality and user confidence
By mastering bug report writing, you can help accelerate repairs and deliver better software. The steps outlined in this guide will equip you to produce high-quality defect reports. Just remember to be clear, concise, complete and objective.
Ideal Bug Report Template
Follow this exact format and include everything within the template to ensure you write a stellar bug report that your developers will love you for.
Your title should serve as a concise summary of what the bug is. Our report titles start with the core feature issue in brackets at the very beginning of the title.
Pro Tip: We recommend you review the title again after completing the report to ensure it is concise and reflects the problem.
The environment for every application can vary widely, but be as specific as you can. Testers should always follow the given bug report template unless otherwise specified — it helps reduce unnecessary information.
- Device: What type of hardware are you using? Which specific model?
- OS: Which version number of the OS has displayed the issue?
- Account Used: This matters if you give testers test accounts. It’s best to include the email and password in the issue report so that when the developers discover the bug, they understand which account was used to discover it.
- Testing App Version: Which version number of the application are you testing? Simply writing “latest version” or “App Store Version” won’t cut it, since some bugs are version-specific, and it’s hard to know the App Store version when searching the store later – make sure your testers include this specific information.
- Connection Type (If Applicable): If the application you’re testing relies on Internet connectivity, are you using WiFi, Ethernet, or cellular data? What is the speed of the connection?
- Reproducibility Rate: How many times have you been able to reproduce the error using the exact steps you’ve taken to activate the bug? In case of an intermittent occurrence, it’s also helpful to report how often the bug has been reproduced vs. the number of attempts it’s taken to reproduce the issue.
Steps to Reproduce A Bug
We number our steps from beginning to end so developers can easily follow through by repeating the same process. We prefer to keep step numbers relatively whittled down by using the “>” symbol.
Example description for steps to reproduce a bug:
1. Go to settings > Profile (this would take user to new screen) 2. Tap on More Options > Delete Account
This way you can provide more process information that leads to the next step without having a reproduction list that appears tediously long. Remind your testers that implied steps, like “Open App” and “Login,” aren’t necessary either unless the issue relies directly upon these actions being taken.
What should happen when you trigger the call to action? This is where you put on your end-user cap. Think about the desired outcome and offer deeper insights than “the app should not crash.“
Here’s the result of the bug. Does the application crash? Does nothing happen at all? Is an error displayed?
In our experience, testers can be a little vague in this department, so encourage them to be as distinct as possible and provide some information on isolation to make the bug report more actionable.
For example, “button does not work as expected” isn’t helpful, whereas “button closes app across different platforms, different OS versions, or different screen sizes” gives developers a better sense of the problem and provides them with additional details to help them start their investigation.
Any pertinent screenshots, videos, or log files should be attached. Testlio bug reports usually require both a video and a screenshot, depending on the nature of the issue. If the issue requires steps to trigger the bug, then video is required. If the bug is, say, a minor UI issue that is always present, then a screenshot will suffice. Logs are also required no matter the issue.
For application crashes, we require both system logs and crash log dumps. Otherwise, developers are left searching for a needle in a haystack, and this saves them valuable time.
Sharing the severity offers a degree of impact the bug has on the system’s functionality and helps the dev team prioritize their work. We recommend using one of three categories of severity in your bug report:
1. High/Critical: Anything that impacts the normal user flow or blocks app usage2. Medium: Anything that negatively affects the user experience3. Minor: ALL else (e.g., typos, missing icons, layout issues, etc.)
The ultimate guide on how to write a bug report
How to write a bug report?
However, the following common fields are always needed when you want to write a bug report: Bug id/ Title. Severity and Priority. Steps to reproduce. Expected result. Actual result. Let’s look at all these bug-tacking components one by one: Every bug should be given a unique identification number.
What is a bug report template?
There is no exact bug report template, as it depends upon your bug-tracking system. Your template might be different. However, the following common fields are always needed when you want to write a bug report: Bug id/ Title. Severity and Priority. Steps to reproduce. Expected result. Actual result.
What is a bug report in software development?
Bug reports are an unavoidable part of the software development life cycle. They provide information about a problem or issue that occurred in a website or application. An effective bug report will include a title, bug description, environment information, steps to reproduce, and more—so developers can reproduce and fix the problem.
What should I do if I report a bug?
Expected vs. actual results When you report a bug, take some time to explain to your developer what you expected to happen and what actually happened. Example: Expected result: ” Item should be added to the cart when I click ADD” Actual result: ” Item does not appear in the cart” 5.
