Bug Life Cycle in Software Testing: States and Workflow Explained

Published on December 12, 2025 | 10-12 min read | Manual Testing & QA
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Bug Life Cycle in Software Testing: A Complete Guide to States and Workflow

Looking for bug life cycle in software testing training? In the intricate world of software development, bugs are an inevitable reality. How a team identifies, manages, and resolves these defects can make the difference between a successful product launch and a costly failure. This is where understanding the bug life cycle becomes paramount. Also known as the defect life cycle, this structured workflow is the backbone of effective defect management, ensuring no issue falls through the cracks. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every state, transition, and best practice in the bug workflow, equipping you with the knowledge to streamline your QA process and deliver higher-quality software.

Key Insight: According to the Consortium for IT Software Quality (CISQ), poor software quality cost US organizations approximately $2.08 trillion in 2020. A robust defect life cycle is a critical defense against these losses, transforming bug tracking from chaos into a controlled, predictable process.

What is the Bug Life Cycle (Defect Life Cycle)?

The Bug Life Cycle, or Defect Life Cycle, is a sequence of distinct states that a bug or defect traverses from the moment it is discovered until it is finally closed. It's a systematic process that defines the who, what, and when of defect handling. This lifecycle is not just a technical checklist; it's a communication framework that aligns developers, testers, project managers, and stakeholders on the status and priority of every issue. A well-defined bug workflow prevents confusion, reduces duplicate efforts, and provides clear metrics for project health.

Core Objectives of a Defined Defect Life Cycle

Implementing a formal lifecycle for bugs serves several crucial purposes:

  • Standardization: Creates a uniform process for all team members to follow.
  • Traceability: Provides a complete audit trail for every defect, from origin to resolution.
  • Accountability: Clearly assigns responsibility at each stage of the bug's journey.
  • Metrics & Reporting: Enables data-driven insights into defect density, fix rates, and team productivity.
  • Improved Communication: Serves as a single source of truth for the status of all issues.

States of the Bug Life Cycle: A Deep Dive

The specific states can vary slightly between organizations and tools (like Jira, Bugzilla, or Azure DevOps), but the core concepts remain consistent. Let's explore each state in detail.

1. New

When a tester (or sometimes a user/developer) identifies and logs a defect for the first time, it enters the New state. The bug is documented with essential details: a clear title, steps to reproduce, actual vs. expected results, environment details, and screenshots. At this point, it awaits review by a lead or manager.

2. Assigned

A development lead or triage team reviews the "New" bug, verifies its validity, and assigns it to the appropriate developer for investigation and fix. The bug moves from the tester's queue to the developer's.

3. Open / In Progress

The assigned developer actively analyzes the bug. They may replicate it, investigate the root cause in the code, and begin working on a solution. This state indicates the bug is being actively addressed.

4. Fixed

The developer has implemented a code change believed to resolve the issue. They mark the bug as Fixed and move it back to the testing queue. The developer typically provides notes on the fix and the code changeset for reference.

5. Retest / Pending Verification

The QA tester now retests the specific functionality on the new build to verify if the fix is successful. This is a critical validation step to ensure the resolution didn't introduce new issues.

6. Verified / Closed

If the retest confirms the bug is resolved, the tester marks it as Verified and then Closed. The bug's life cycle concludes successfully. Closure signifies the issue is fully resolved and requires no further action.

7. Reopened

If during retest the bug persists or the fix is incomplete, the tester reopens the bug and reassigns it to the developer. The cycle returns to the "Open" state. This highlights the iterative nature of the process.

8. Deferred / Postponed

Not all bugs are fixed immediately. A bug may be deferred if it's low priority, out of scope for the current release, or requires a major architectural change. It is scheduled for a future release or sprint.

9. Rejected

The developer may reject a bug if it is a duplicate of an existing issue, not a bug (works as designed), non-reproducible, or due to a test environment error. Clear communication from the developer is essential here.

10. Duplicate

If a bug is identical to one already logged, it is marked as a Duplicate and linked to the original bug report. This prevents wasted effort on tracking the same issue multiple times.

Real-World Example: Imagine a tester finds that the "Submit Order" button becomes unclickable after entering a specific postal code. They log it as New. The lead Assigns it to a backend developer. The developer works on it (Open), fixes the API validation logic, and marks it Fixed. The tester retests (Retest) with the same postal code, confirms it works, and Closes the bug. If the button still didn't work, they would Reopen it.

The Bug Life Cycle Workflow Diagram

A visual representation is the best way to understand the flow and possible transitions between states. The following diagram outlines the standard workflow:

[Visual Description of Diagram for Context: A flowchart starting with NEW, branching to ASSIGNED/REJECTED/DUPLICATE/DEFERRED. ASSIGNED leads to OPEN, then to FIXED. FIXED leads to RETEST, which can lead to VERIFIED/CLOSED or REOPENED back to OPEN.]

(Note: In a live blog, an actual SVG or image file would be embedded here illustrating the flow from New -> Assigned -> Open -> Fixed -> Retest -> Verified/Closed, with side paths to Rejected, Duplicate, Deferred, and Reopened.)

Critical Roles in the Defect Management Process

  • Tester/QA Analyst: Discovers, documents, and reports bugs. Later, verifies fixes.
  • Development Lead/Triage Team: Reviews new bugs, assigns priority/severity, and directs them to the right developer.
  • Developer: Analyzes, fixes, and resolves assigned bugs.
  • Project Manager/Product Owner: Makes business decisions on deferred bugs, priority, and release scope.

Best Practices for Effective Bug Workflow Management

Mastering the lifecycle requires more than just knowing the states. Implement these practices for optimal defect management:

  1. Write Clear and Concise Bug Reports: Include a descriptive summary, detailed steps, data used, and visual evidence.
  2. Use a Dedicated Bug Tracking Tool: Tools like Jira, ClickUp, or GitHub Issues automate workflow and centralize information.
  3. Define & Agree on Severity vs. Priority:
    • Severity: Impact on the system (e.g., Crash, Major, Minor, Cosmetic).
    • Priority: Urgency of fix (e.g., High, Medium, Low). A cosmetic typo (High Severity? Low) might have Low Priority, while a login failure has High Severity and High Priority.
  4. Conduct Regular Bug Triage Meetings: Review incoming bugs as a team to assess, prioritize, and assign them swiftly.
  5. Maintain a "Done" Criteria for Fixing and Closing: Define what "Fixed" and "Verified" mean for your team to avoid ambiguity.

Understanding the theory is the first step. To apply these concepts in real projects, structured learning is key. Consider deepening your expertise with a dedicated course like our Manual Testing Fundamentals, which covers defect lifecycle management in practical detail.

Common Challenges and Solutions in the Bug Life Cycle

Even with a defined process, teams face hurdles. Here’s how to tackle them:

  • Challenge: Vague or non-reproducible bug reports.
    Solution: Train testers on effective bug reporting and mandate the use of templates with required fields.
  • Challenge: Bottlenecks in the "Assigned" or "Retest" states.
    Solution: Implement work-in-progress (WIP) limits and ensure balanced workload distribution.
    • Challenge: High "Reopened" rate.
    Solution: Improve root cause analysis during the "Open" phase and encourage developers to provide unit tests for their fixes.

For teams looking to scale their quality assurance and integrate automation into their bug workflow, a comprehensive skill set is vital. Explore our Manual and Full-Stack Automation Testing program to learn how automation can supercharge every stage of the defect life cycle.

Conclusion

The bug life cycle is far more than a procedural formality; it is the central nervous system of software quality control. By meticulously defining states like New, Assigned, Open, Fixed, and Closed, and managing transitions through Reopened or Deferred, teams gain control over the chaos of software defects. A mature defect management process, supported by clear communication and the right tools, directly contributes to faster release cycles, higher product quality, and increased stakeholder confidence. Start by mapping your current process against this model, identify gaps, and implement the changes—your future releases will be smoother for it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Bug Life Cycle

What's the difference between Bug Life Cycle and Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)?
The STLC is the overall process for testing activities (planning, design, execution, closure). The Bug Life Cycle is a sub-process within the execution phase of the STLC, specifically managing the defects found during testing.
Can a bug directly move from 'New' to 'Closed'?
Yes, but only in specific cases. If a bug is logged as 'New' and is immediately identified as a Duplicate or is Rejected (e.g., "Not a Bug"), it can be closed without being assigned or fixed. The lifecycle is short-circuited based on triage.
Who has the authority to close a bug? The Tester or Developer?
Typically, only the tester (or QA role) who verifies the fix should close a bug. The developer marks it 'Fixed,' but closure is the tester's confirmation that the fix is acceptable. This separation of duties ensures objective verification.
What does 'Status' vs. 'Resolution' mean in bug tracking tools?
Status indicates the current active state (e.g., Open, In Progress, Retest). Resolution describes the final outcome of a closed bug (e.g., Fixed, Won't Fix, Duplicate, Cannot Reproduce). A bug is 'Closed' (status) with a 'Fixed' resolution.
How should we handle bugs found after a product is released?
These are treated as production bugs. They enter the lifecycle as 'New,' often with high priority/severity. The fix may go through an emergency hotfix process or be scheduled for the next planned patch/release, following the same Assigned->Open->Fixed->Verified workflow.
Is the bug life cycle the same in Agile and Waterfall methodologies?
The core states are similar, but the pace and context differ. In Agile, the cycle is shorter, tightly integrated into a sprint (often within 2 weeks). In Waterfall, it's a phase in the larger testing stage, and bugs can be deferred to later phases more formally.
What is the most important field in a bug report?
While all fields are important, "Steps to Reproduce" is arguably the most critical. Clear, unambiguous steps allow a developer to quickly replicate the issue, which is the first and most crucial step toward diagnosing and fixing it.
How many times can a bug be 'Reopened'?
Technically, there's no limit. However, a bug being reopened multiple times is a red flag. It indicates poor root cause analysis, inadequate fix verification, or communication breakdowns. It should trigger a team discussion to address the underlying process issue.

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