QA Fundamentals
Bug Report
A document describing a software defect with enough detail for a developer to reproduce and fix it.
Full definition
A bug report is a formal document that communicates a defect to the development team. Writing clear, actionable bug reports is one of the most important skills for a QA engineer — a poorly written report wastes everyone's time.
A good bug report template:
- Title: Short, specific (e.g., 'Login fails with special characters in password')
- Environment: OS, browser, app version, device
- Prerequisites: Any setup needed before reproduction
- Steps to reproduce: Numbered, specific steps
- Expected result: What should happen
- Actual result: What actually happens
- Severity/Priority: How bad is it, how urgent is the fix
- Attachments: Screenshots, video recordings, logs
Common mistakes: vague titles ('It doesn't work'), missing steps, assuming the developer knows the context, not including environment details.
Interview tip
Many interviews include a practical task: 'Here is a feature — find bugs and write reports.' Practice this with any web app.