Bug Life Cycle in Software Testing
- QA Vault
- May 21
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
In the world of software development, bugs are inevitable. Whether you’re launching a new app, updating a legacy system, or scaling your infrastructure, encountering software defects is part of the process. But how these bugs are tracked, analyzed, and resolved is what matters.
This is where the Bug Life Cycle comes into play.
What Is the Bug Life Cycle?
The Bug Life Cycle (also known as Defect Life Cycle) is the sequence of states that a software bug goes through during its existence in a software development process. It starts when a bug is reported and ends when the bug is closed after proper verification and validation.
Understanding this life cycle helps teams maintain clarity, accountability, and efficiency in bug tracking and fixing.
Stages of the Bug Life Cycle
Here’s a typical breakdown of the bug life cycle stages:
1. New
Description: A tester finds a defect and logs it using a bug tracking tool (like JIRA, Bugzilla, or Azure DevOps).
Key Action: Initial documentation with all necessary details (steps to reproduce, environment, screenshots, severity, etc.).
2. Assigned
Description: The bug is assigned to a developer or a team for analysis.
Key Action: A project lead or triage team prioritizes and assigns the bug.
3. Open
Description: The developer starts working on the bug.
Key Action: Root cause analysis and fix implementation begins.
4. Fixed
Description: The developer has fixed the issue.
Key Action: Code changes are committed, and the bug is marked as fixed for retesting.
5. Retest
Description: The tester re-tests the application to verify the fix.
Key Action: Execute the same steps that originally triggered the bug.
6. Verified
Description: The tester confirms that the bug is resolved.
Key Action: No recurrence of the issue is observed during retesting.
7. Closed
Description: The bug is officially closed.
Key Action: Final confirmation that no further action is required.
Additional Status:
In some workflows, bugs may also go through intermediate or alternate states:
Rejected: Bug is invalid or not reproducible.
Duplicate: Bug is already reported.
Deferred: Bug is valid but postponed to a future release.
Cannot Reproduce: Tester/developer cannot replicate the issue.
Reopened: Bug reappears even after being marked fixed or closed.
Why Is the Bug Life Cycle Important?
Transparency: Everyone in the team knows the status of a bug.
Accountability: Tracks who is responsible at each stage.
Efficiency: Helps in prioritizing and managing time effectively.
Quality Assurance: Ensures that bugs don’t fall through the cracks.
Tools That Support Bug Life Cycle Management
JIRA
Bugzilla
Each tool may use slightly different terminology but generally supports the full bug life cycle.
Final Thoughts
A clearly defined and consistently followed bug life cycle is essential for delivering high-quality software. It enhances collaboration between testers, developers, and project managers and ensures that no bug is left unresolved. As the complexity of software grows, so does the importance of structured processes like the bug life cycle.
Understanding it isn’t just a QA concern—it’s a team-wide responsibility.
💬 Have thoughts or experiences with bug tracking in your projects? Share them in the comments below!
Comments