Introduction
A successful bug report shows the developer the difference between the expected behavior and the actual test results. It is a tester’s job to know how to write actual bug reports and expected results properly.
Following the bug summary that will be delivered to the development team, the actual results describe the output as initially observed by the tester, regardless of what the software is supposed to do in that development stage.
On the other hand, expected results cover the typical behavior or output of the item currently in testing. These intended results are usually previously described in the existing specifications or requirements, so the developer and tester know what to expect when tests are run.
While writing actual results is solely based on the observations you have made as a tester, expected results depend on the amount of documentation you can access.
Here are our suggestions, depending on your starting point:
Situation 1: you do not have requirements or specifications
There will be cases when you do not have a requirement or documentation to explain why you wrote a bug. After noting the results as you observed them, you should illustrate the intended output as precisely as possible. You should describe the ideal scenario in as much detail as possible, so it’s best to avoid pointless observations such as ‘The captions should load, but they don’t.’
This situation has two possible scenarios, which we will present in the following examples:
1.1 What you are presenting is just an improvement of an existing process. This time, it's best to use the word "could":
E. g.: Expected result: The app could make it as easy for the user to reject cookies as it is to accept them.
See more: It’s easy to accept all cookies, but how difficult is it to reject all of them?
1.2 The bug behavior is based on industry standards. This time, you need to use "should":
E. g.: You can log in with a regular user account in the admin section of the product.
Expected result: You should not be able to log in with a regular user to the admin section of the app.
Situation 2: you do have requirements or specifications
In the previous examples, the tester writes the expected results based on their assumptions and suggestions. When we have access to requirements and specifications, the predicted output already exists in the documentation.
1.3 In this situation, the bug report template involves presenting a link to the existing documentation followed by a screenshot, as shown in the examples below:
1.
2.
3.
Bug reports serve as a primary means of communication between testers and developers within the software development landscape. Embracing the utilization of these established templates and standards can significantly streamline the development process.
Employing the aforementioned bug report templates and industry-recognized standards offers many advantages, not the least of which is streamlining the multifaceted development process. This harmonization creates a more efficient, informed, collaborative development ecosystem. In this manner, adopting such templates and standards contributes to the software development lifecycle’s overall robustness, reliability, and efficacy.
Stay Updated with the Latest in QA
The world of software testing and quality assurance is ever-evolving. To stay abreast of the latest methodologies, tools, and best practices, bookmark our blog. We’re committed to providing in-depth insights, expert opinions, and trend analysis that can help you refine your software quality processes.
Delve deeper into a range of specialized services we offer, tailored to meet the diverse needs of modern businesses. As well, hear what our clients have to say about us on Clutch!