Bug Severity and Priority

Let’s delve into the concepts of bug severity and bug priority in software testing:

1. Bug Severity:

   • Definition: Bug severity measures the impact a defect (or bug) can have on the development or functioning of an application feature when it is being used.
   • Levels of Severity:
     • Low: The bug won’t result in any noticeable breakdown of the system.
     • Minor: Results in some unexpected or undesired behavior, but not enough to disrupt system function.
     • Major: The bug is capable of collapsing large parts of the system.
     • Critical: The bug is capable of triggering a complete system shutdown.
   • Determining Severity:
     • QA engineers evaluate how frequently the bug occurs.
     • Even if the bug seems minor, frequent occurrences can significantly impact the end-user experience.

2. Bug Priority:

   • Definition: Bug priority refers to how urgently a defect needs to be fixed.
   • Factors Influencing Priority:
     • Business Impact: How critical the issue is for the business.
     • Project Timeline: The urgency based on project deadlines.
   • Levels of Priority:
     • High: Requires immediate attention due to its impact on business or project timelines.
     • Medium: Needs attention but can wait a bit longer.
     • Low: Can be addressed later without significant consequences.

Example Scenarios:

• High Severity and Low Priority:
  • A critical bug causing system crashes (high severity) might be assigned a lower priority if it doesn’t impact immediate business goals.
• High Severity and High Priority:
  • A security vulnerability (high severity) that exposes sensitive user data would be assigned high priority.
• Low Severity and High Priority:
  • A minor UI glitch (low severity) affecting a critical feature with a tight deadline would be given high priority.
• Low Severity and Low Priority:
  • A minor spelling error (low severity) in a non-critical area can wait (low priority).

Remember, severity reflects the impact on functionality, while priority reflects urgency based on business needs or project timelines. Both play crucial roles in effective bug management during software development and testing.