What is Defect in Software Testing

What is Defect in Software Testing

What is defect?

Defects are defined as the deviation of the actual and expected results of a system or software application. Defects can also be defined as any deviation or irregularity from the specifications mentioned in the product functional specification document. The developer causes defects in the development phase of the software. When a developer or programmer during the development phase makes some mistake, then that turns into bugs that are called defects. The developers’ mistakes cause it. A software product defect represents the software’s inability and inefficiency to meet the specified requirements and criteria and subsequently prevents the software application from performing the expected and desired work.


Types of Defects: The following are some of the basic types of defects in software development:


Arithmetic Defects: These include defects made by the developer in some arithmetic expression or mistakes in finding a solution to such arithmetic expression. The programmer makes this defect due to access work or less knowledge. Code congestion may also lead to arithmetic defects as a programmer cannot watch the written code properly.


Logical Defects: Logical defects are mistakes made regarding implementing the code. When the programmer doesn’t understand the problem clearly or thinks in the wrong way, then such types of defects happen. Also, while implementing the code, logical defects occur if the programmer doesn’t take care of the corner cases. It is related to the core of the software.


Syntax Defects: Syntax defects means mistake in the writing style of the code. It also focuses on the small mistakes made by the developer while writing the code. The developers often do the syntax defects as some small symbols might escape. For example, while writing code in C++, there is the possibility that a semicolon(;) is escaped.


Multithreading Defects: Multithreading means running or executing multiple tasks simultaneously. Hence, in the multithreading process, complex debugging is possible. In multithreading processes, sometimes there is a condition of deadlock and starvation that may lead to the system’s failure.


Interface Defects: Interface defects refer to the defects in the interaction between the software and the users. The system may suffer different kinds of interface testing in the forms of a complicated interface, an unclear interface, or a platform-based interface.


Performance Defects: Performance defects are when the system or the software application cannot meet the desired and expected results. When the system or software application doesn’t fulfill the users’ requirements, that is the performance defect. It also includes the system’s response to the varying load on the system.


Software error: A software error occurs during the development of the software. This error can be a grammatical error. In this logical error, the outcome of a sequence of executions will not result in what was intended or a misinterpretation of the user requirements in the actual written code. It may be in user documentation not matching the software application operation. An error may or may not be detected during the coding or testing of the program before it was released to a customer.


Software Fault: A software fault occurs due to an error that remains in the executing program. However, Not all faults are detected, and the software may continue executing without apparent problems. There are cases where software faults go undetected for many years of the existence of a program.


Software Failure: A software failure is a fault that results in a detectable problem; hence, it is referred to as a failure. A failure would cause the application to malfunction in an obvious manner that warrants the attention of system maintenance.


Dealing with defects often involves identifying and addressing the root cause of the issue to prevent it from happening in the future. Quality control processes and inspections are used in many industries to detect and rectify defects before products or systems are delivered to customers or users.