"The Art of Writing Effective Bug Reports: Tips and Best Practices"

       Oh no, it happened again! You're happily using your favorite software when suddenly, you encounter a bug. Maybe the screen freezes, or the application crashes, or a button simply doesn't work the way it's supposed to. Whatever the issue may be, you know you need to report it to the development team so they can fix it or sometimes they didnot fix right way. But how do you write a bug report that gets results? Fear not, my bug-battling friends, because in this post, we're going to cover everything you need to know to write a top bug report. So grab your magnifying glass and let's get started! Don't Stop to read !

Figure:01

• Provide clear and concise steps to reproduce the bug

     Include a detailed description of what you were doing before the bug occurred, along with the steps to reproduce the bug. This will help the developer understand the context of the bug and reproduce it easily.

• Report the problem immediately

    Write bug reports immediately afte discovering a bug during testing. Waiting to write a report increases the risk of missing important details and reduces the reproducibility of the bug.

• Test the same bug occurrence on other similar modules 

        Check for similar modules when reporting a bug, as the same code may be used across multiple modules. This increases the likelihood of the bug occurring in other areas, and you may even uncover a more severe version of the issue.

• Include screenshots or screen recordings

        Including screenshots or screen recordings of the bug can provide visual context and make it easier for the developer to understand the issue.

• Include the environment details

     Provide information about the environment in which the bug occurred, such as the operating system, browser, and version number. This will help the developer to narrow down the cause of the bug.

• Read the Bug report before hitting the Submit button

  Review the bug report thoroughly for ambiguous wording or steps that could lead to misinterpretation. Avoid using misleading words or sentences to ensure a clear and concise bug report.

• Be polite and respectful 

     Remember that the developer is trying to fix the bug, so be polite and respectful in your communication. Avoid using accusatory language and focus on providing helpful information.

• Expected vs. actual behavior

    Clearly explain what is supposed to happen and what is actually happening. This helps the development team understand .what the issue is and how to fix it.

• Additional details / Comments 

     Provide any additional information that may be helpful in identifying and resolving the issue. This could include error messages, logs, or any other relevant data.

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Here is a sample Bug Report for the above-mention

1. Bug Name: Application crashes upon clicking the SAVE button while creating a new user.
2. Bug ID: (It will be automatically created by the BUG Tracking tool once you save this bug).
3. Area Path: USERS menu -> New Users
4. Build Number: Version Number 5.0.1
5. Severity: HIGH (High/Medium/Low) 
6. Priority: HIGH (High/Medium/Low)
7. Assigned to: Developer-X
8. Reported By: Your Name
9. Reported On: Date
10. Reason: Defect
11. Status: New/Open/Active (Depends on the Tool you are using)
12. Environment: Windows 2003/SQL Server 2005
13. Description: Application crashes upon clicking the SAVE button while creating a new the user, hence unable to create a new user in the application.

    Remember, the goal of a good bug report is to provide enough information for the development team to identify and fix the issue quickly and efficiently.

One of the worst parts of working in the QA job field can be dealing with repetitive and monotonous testing tasks, such as regression testing or manual testing of the same features over and over again. Additionally, being the bearer of bad news by reporting bugs or issues can sometimes lead to strained relationships with developers or other team members. Another challenging aspect can be working under tight deadlines or high-pressure situations, where there may be a sense of urgency to complete testing quickly, which can lead to increased stress levels. On the whole As a QA  should overcome these issue to deliver the project or report in proper way on time.