What is a Bug Life Cycle in Software Testing

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Bug: A software bug is an unexpected behavior of the system that the user or QA didn't anticipate or intend.

The Bug Life Cycle (also known as the Defect Life Cycle) defines the journey of a defect from its initial discovery to its final closure. This process ensures that every bug is tracked, fixed, and verified systematically to maintain software quality.

🔁 Phases of Bug Life Cycle

  1. New: When a tester finds a new bug, it's marked as "New". It's waiting for review by the development team or project lead.
  2. Assigned: The bug is reviewed and assigned to a developer for fixing.
  3. Open: The developer has started working on the bug fix.
  4. Fixed: The developer has fixed the bug and the status is updated to "Fixed".
  5. Retest: The bug is sent back to the testing team for validation. Testers perform retesting to ensure the bug is really fixed.
  6. Verified: If the bug no longer exists, the tester marks it as "Verified".
  7. Closed: Once verified, the defect is closed and marked as complete.
  8. Reopen: If the issue still exists after the fix, the tester reopens the bug, and it goes through the cycle again.
  9. Duplicate / Rejected / Deferred / Not a Bug: Other possible statuses used based on project policies.

📊 Common Bug Statuses and What They Mean

Status Description
New Bug reported for the first time.
Assigned Assigned to a developer for fixing.
Open Work has started on the bug fix.
Fixed Bug has been fixed by the developer.
Retest Tester will validate the fix.
Verified Tester confirms the bug no longer exists.
Closed Bug is fixed and verified; no further action.
Reopen Bug still exists; sent back for fixing again.
Duplicate Similar bug already reported.
Rejected Bug is invalid or not reproducible.
Deferred Bug postponed for a future release.
Not a Bug The reported issue is expected behavior.



Bug lifecycle


✅ Best Practices for Bug Tracking

  • Write clear and reproducible bug descriptions.
  • Attach screenshots or logs when possible.
  • Maintain consistent communication with developers.
  • Keep bug statuses up to date in the defect tracking tool.

Pro Tip: Tools like JIRA, Bugzilla, and Mantis help manage the bug life cycle efficiently.

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