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Table of contents
1.
Introduction
2.
What is a Bug?
2.1.
Type of Bugs
3.
What is a Defect?
3.1.
Type of Defects
4.
What is a Error?
4.1.
Type of Errors
5.
What is Fault?
5.1.
Type of Fault
6.
What is Failure?
6.1.
Type of Fault
7.
Difference between bug and defect
8.
Frequently Asked Questions
8.1.
Why is a defect called a bug?
8.2.
What is the defect and bug cycle?
8.3.
What are defect types?
8.4.
What are 3 defects?
8.5.
How does IDE help in preventing bugs?
9.
Conclusion
Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024
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Difference between Bug and Defect

Author Nikhil Joshi
0 upvote

Introduction

Hi Ninjas, Welcome back!

Do you know the “difference between bug and defect”? Are you one of those newbies in the testing industry who uses this term interchangeably whenever applications act abnormal?

Difference Between bug and defects

Need not worry! This guide will thoroughly explain the "difference between bug and defect". It is essential to know that they are not the same and they should be used in a different context.

But before that, let's briefly discuss bugs and defects.

What is a Bug?

A bug is an unexpected flaw, error, or fault in the coding or design of a program that results in unwanted or wrong behavior. These difficulties can range in complexity from simple ones like a typographical error to serious ones like system crashes or data loss.

Type of Bugs

The four types of bugs are:-

  • Functional Bug: These flaws involve problems with a software application's fundamental functionality. When a feature or function does not work as intended or yields unexpected effects, they happen

    Cosmetic Bug: They are generally focused on a software application's graphical or visually appealing features. Although these problems don't impair functioning, the incorrect or inconsistent display of items could have an adverse effect on the user experience
     
  • Performance Bug: It affect a software application's speed, responsiveness, and resource usage. System crashes, high memory utilization, and delayed reaction times might result from these problems
     
  • Compatibility Bug: When a piece of software doesn't work properly in particular conditions or with particular hardware, operating systems, or other software components, it has a compatibility bug. These flaws may result in problems like operating system or browser compatibility problems
     

What is a Defect?

Any imperfection or error in a software product that differs from its intended behavior or requirements is referred to as a defect in the context of software development. It covers a broad spectrum of difficulties, such as bugs, errors, and other issues that may occur during the development, testing, or deployment stages. 

Type of Defects

  • Design Defects: Design errors in the software's overall architecture or design result in problems with how various components interact or function
     
  • Interface Defects: It happen when there are issues with how various software modules or components communicate or share data
     
  • Compatible Defects: These flaws involve problems with how the software performs in various settings, such as issues with compatibility with particular browsers, operating systems, or hardware
     
  • Performance Defects: Suboptimal performance is the outcome of performance flaws that influence the software's speed, responsiveness, or resource usage
     

What is a Error?

An error is a mistake or flaw in the code or the development process that causes a departure from the program's intended behavior. Typographical errors, improper syntax, and faulty logic in the code are a few of the causes of errors.

Type of Errors

  • Syntax Error: These happen when the code deviates from the programming language's conventions. Usually discovered during compilation, it stops the program from running
     
  • Logical Error: These are logical errors that cause the software to produce erroneous or unexpected outcomes. They can be difficult to find since the code may execute without producing an error message
     
  • Runtime Error: While the software is executing, these errors happen. They may result from errors with memory allocation, accessing an element in an array that doesn't exist, or division by zero
     
  • Semantic Error: Semantic error concern the understanding or meaning of the code. They happen when a misunderstanding or logical error in the program results in the code being technically correct but not producing the desired result
     

What is Fault?

A fault is a flaw or defect in the programming code or design that could possibly cause the software to behave improperly or malfunction. A fault is a static issue with the code that might or might not cause an error to occur when it is being executed. It stands for a fundamental problem that, if certain circumstances are met, can make the program generate unexpected or inaccurate results. 

Type of Fault

  • Syntax Fault: These are connected to violations of a computer language's syntax rules. They contain problems like missing semicolons or wrong variable names that stop the code from compiling
     
  • Logic Fault: Errors in the logical structure or flow of the code result in inaccurate or unexpected results, which are known as logic faults. These can be more difficult to spot because the code may still run well without producing issues
     
  • Interface Fault: It happen when there are issues with how several software systems or components interact, share information, or communicate with one another
     
  • Hardware Fault: These errors are linked to problems with a system's hardware, such as a busted CPU, memory module, or other hardware components
     

What is Failure?

A software or system fails when it does not function as intended or when it yields unexpected or wrong outcomes. It stands for the visible and undesired result of a software error or flaw. 

Type of Fault

  • Logical Failure: These happen as a result of a logical error in the program's conception or execution, producing false results or unexpected behavior

    Interface Failure: Failures in the communication between various software application systems or components lead to interface failures
     
  • Conncurrency Failures: Concurrency errors happen in setups that use multiple threads or parallel processing when several activities or processes conflict with one another and throw off synchronization
     
  • Security Failure: Software flaws can be exploited by attackers to cause security failures, which could result in unauthorized access, data breaches, or other security violations
     

Difference between bug and defect

As we have gone through the brief introduction of bugs and defects, It is time for us to look at the “difference between bug and defect”.

Comparison Basic

Bugs

Defects

Cause They are mainly caused by programming errors. They are mainly caused by faulty design or requirements flaws.
Types  
Logical Flaw in the design or logic of a program that leads to incorrect or unexpected behavior.  It refers to the same type of flaw in the program's design or logic.
Interface An issue related to problems with the interaction between different components or systems in a software application.  It refers to the same type of issue with component interaction.
Performance A specific instance of a performance issue in a software application, typically causing slow response times or high resource utilization.  A broader term referring to any performance-related flaw in a software application, encompassing various types of performance issues.
Detection Generally, found in the testing phase by QA. Generally, found after the product is released to customers.
Impact Bugs cause the software to malfunction. The defect is a flaw that reduces product usability.
Fixing

Bugs are easy to track and fix. 

 

A customer identifies it in the production environment. It is tough to fix.  
Timing Correction of bugs takes less time. Correction requires much higher time.
Cost The cost of bug fixation is also less.  The cost of defect fixation is also high.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is a defect called a bug?

A historical incident in 1947 when a moth got stuck in a computer and caused a malfunction gave rise to the term "bug" for a flaw. The word became well-known as a result of this incident.

What is the defect and bug cycle?

The continual process of finding, reporting, prioritizing, resolving, testing, and confirming software development issues is known as the defect and bug cycle.

What are defect types?

Defect types that affect the quality and functionality of software include syntax errors, logical flaws, interface problems, performance concerns, security vulnerabilities, and more.

What are 3 defects?

There are three types of defects namely logical, syntax, and interface defects. These types of defects collectively contribute to the need for rigorous testing and debugging in software development.

How does IDE help in preventing bugs?

IDE (Integrated Development Environment) provides features like code editing automation, syntax highlighting and intelligent code completion. It also consists of components for testing and debugging. All these features will minimize bugs during development.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have discussed the "difference between bug and defect". The main "difference between bug and defect" is that while bugs are found during the testing phase itself, the customer/end-user would notice defects.
Generally, the Prevention strategy is the same for both of them. 

Recommended Reading:

Difference Between List and Set

While bug fixation requires more coding review and unit testing, defect rectification will require a better understanding of customer requirements and better integration testing.
At last, both bug fixation and defect rectification are required for a good application.

If you want to be more clear about such related terminologies, you can read the difference between errors and bugs

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