Bug Life Cycle, also known as Defect Life Cycle, refers to the various stages through which a bug or defect progresses from identification to resolution. The bug life cycle typically consists of the following stages:
New: The bug is newly identified and reported by a tester or user. At this stage, the bug is assigned a unique identifier or bug number and is logged into a bug tracking system.
Assigned: The bug is assigned to the appropriate developer or development team responsible for fixing it. The assignment includes providing relevant information about the bug, such as its description, steps to reproduce, and any supporting attachments or screenshots.
Open: The bug is acknowledged and accepted by the developer. It is then marked as “open” in the bug tracking system, indicating that it is being actively worked on.
In Progress: The developer begins investigating and fixing the bug. This stage involves analyzing the code, identifying the root cause of the bug, making the necessary code changes, and implementing a solution.
Fixed: Once the developer has made the required code changes and believes that the bug has been resolved, the bug status is changed to “fixed.” The developer may provide additional details, such as the modified code or explanation of the fix.
Retest: After the bug is marked as fixed, it is assigned back to the testing team for retesting. Testers verify whether the bug has been successfully fixed and that the system behaves as expected.
Verified: If the retesting confirms that the bug is indeed fixed, the bug is marked as “verified.” The testing team ensures that the fix has not introduced any new issues or side effects.
Closed: The bug is considered resolved and closed when it has been fixed and verified. It is no longer actively tracked or worked on. The bug tracking system may retain the bug record for historical reference.
Deferred: In some cases, a bug may be deemed low priority or not critical enough to be fixed in the current release or development cycle. Such bugs are marked as “deferred” and are set aside for future consideration.
Rejected: If a reported bug is found to be invalid or not reproducible, it can be rejected. This typically occurs when the bug does not conform to the predefined bug reporting guidelines or lacks sufficient information to investigate and reproduce the issue.
Duplicate: When a bug report is found to be a duplicate of an existing bug that has already been reported and is being worked on, the duplicate bug is marked as such. This helps avoid redundant efforts and allows the team to focus on the original bug.
Need More Information: Sometimes, the bug report may lack essential details or steps to reproduce. In such cases, the bug is marked as “need more information,” and the reporter is requested to provide additional information or clarify the issue.
On Hold: Occasionally, a bug may be put on hold due to dependencies, external factors, or other reasons. It remains unresolved but is not actively being worked on. Once the hold condition is resolved, the bug can be moved back to the appropriate stage for further processing.
Reopened: If a bug that was previously marked as closed or verified is found to resurface in the software, it can be reopened. The bug is reassigned to the development team for re-investigation and resolution.
The bug life cycle can vary slightly depending on the organization and the bug tracking system used. However, these stages generally represent the typical flow of a bug from identification to closure. Effective bug tracking and management help ensure that bugs are properly documented, tracked, and resolved, leading to improved software quality.