What is the Defect Life Cycle?

The Defect Life Cycle (also known as Bug Life Cycle) is a systematic process that tracks a software defect from its initial discovery through to its final resolution. It represents the complete journey of a bug through various states, ensuring proper coordination between development and testing teams.

Purpose and Objectives

The defect lifecycle serves several critical purposes:

• Communication Enhancement: Facilitates clear communication about defect status between team members
• Process Efficiency: Streamlines the bug-fixing process through standardized workflows
• Resource Optimization: Helps teams allocate resources effectively for defect resolution
• Quality Assurance: Ensures systematic tracking and resolution of all identified issues
• Cost Reduction: Early detection and structured resolution reduce overall project costs

Note: The specific states and processes may vary between organizations and projects based on their development methodologies, tools, and testing frameworks.

Core Defect Life Cycle States

1. New

The initial state when a tester discovers a defect. The tester creates comprehensive documentation including:

• Detailed problem description
• Steps to reproduce the issue
• Expected vs. actual results
• Supporting evidence (screenshots, logs)

2. Assigned

After review and approval, the defect is assigned to a developer or development team. This marks the transition from identification to active resolution planning.

3. Open

The developer begins investigating and working on the defect. During this phase:

• Root cause analysis is performed
• Technical solutions are designed
• Code changes are implemented
• Internal testing may occur

4. Fixed

The developer has completed the necessary code changes and believes the defect is resolved. The fix is ready for formal testing validation.

5. Pending Retest

The fixed code is handed over to the testing team and awaits retesting. This represents a transition period between development completion and quality validation.

6. Retest

The testing team actively validates the fix by:

• Re-executing the original test scenario
• Verifying the defect no longer occurs
• Checking for any regression issues
• Confirming expected functionality

7. Reopen

If retesting reveals that the defect persists or new issues have emerged, the bug returns to the "Open" state for additional development work.

8. Verified

The tester confirms that the defect has been successfully resolved and no longer impacts the software functionality.

9. Closed

The final state indicating complete defect resolution. The issue is permanently resolved and removed from active tracking.

Practical Example: E-Commerce Search Functionality

Scenario: Blank Search Results Page

Step 1 - New: Tester discovers that product searches return blank pages instead of results. A detailed defect report is created and logged.

Step 2 - Assigned: Development team reviews the issue and assigns it to a backend developer familiar with search functionality.

Step 3 - Open: Developer investigates and identifies faulty query processing in the backend code. Active development begins.

Step 4 - Fixed: Developer corrects the search query logic and marks the defect as resolved.

Step 5 - Pending Retest: Updated code is submitted to testing team for validation.

Step 6 - Retest: Tester re-executes search functionality tests and confirms proper results display.

Step 7 - Verified: Tester validates that search functionality works correctly across different scenarios.

Step 8 - Closed: Defect is officially closed as completely resolved.

Additional Defect States

Beyond the core lifecycle, several alternative states may apply depending on circumstances:

Rejected States

Rejected: Applied when the reported issue is determined to not be a genuine defect due to:

• Duplicate reporting of existing defects
• Misunderstanding of expected functionality
• Issues that cannot be reproduced

Duplicate: Used when the same defect has been reported multiple times

Not a Defect: Applied when the reported behavior is actually correct or has no functional impact

Deferred States

Deferred: Low-priority defects that will be addressed in future releases rather than the current development cycle

Can't be Fixed: Applied when resolution is impossible due to:

• Technology limitations
• Excessive fixing costs
• Lack of required expertise
• External dependencies

Information-Related States

Non-Reproducible: Used when developers cannot recreate the defect due to:

• Platform differences
• Data inconsistencies
• Build version mismatches
• Environmental factors

Need More Information: Applied when the defect report lacks sufficient detail for reproduction. Additional documentation or clarification is required from the testing team.

Benefits and Impact

Implementing a structured defect lifecycle provides numerous advantages:

• Early Issue Detection: Systematic tracking helps identify patterns and recurring problems
• Improved Team Communication: Clear status indicators reduce confusion and miscommunication
• Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: Thorough defect resolution leads to higher quality software
• Better Resource Management: Teams can prioritize and allocate resources more effectively
• Reduced Development Costs: Structured processes minimize rework and improve efficiency

While the defect lifecycle can be resource-intensive, the benefits of systematic defect management significantly outweigh the challenges, resulting in more reliable, user-friendly software products.