Comparison Scenarios - Part 3

A defect is a flaw introduced during software development, while a bug is a defect found during testing or after deployment. Developers create defects by writing incorrect code or logic. Testers identify these defects and report them as bugs. Example: A login button does not validate the password correctly. The incorrect code is the defect, and the issue reported by the tester is the bug.

An error is a human mistake made during coding, design, or requirements. A defect (bug) is the flaw introduced into the software because of that error. A failure occurs when the software behaves incorrectly during execution due to the defect. Example: A developer writes an incorrect formula (error), the wrong code exists in the application (bug/defect), and users receive incorrect calculations (failure).

Testing is the process of executing software to identify defects and verify that it meets requirements. It is mainly performed by testers. Debugging is the process of finding the root cause of a defect and fixing it, usually performed by developers. Testing discovers problems, while debugging resolves them.

Severity indicates how serious a defect is and how much it affects the system's functionality. Priority indicates how quickly the defect should be fixed based on business needs. Severity is usually decided by testers, while priority is determined by project managers or product owners. Example: A spelling mistake on the homepage has low severity but may have high priority because it is visible to all users.

A Test Plan is a project-specific document that describes the testing scope, objectives, schedule, resources, and responsibilities. A Test Strategy is a high-level document that defines the overall testing approach, standards, and methodologies followed across projects. The Test Strategy remains relatively stable, whereas the Test Plan changes for each project.

A Test Scenario is a high-level description of what needs to be tested. A Test Case is a detailed document containing test steps, input data, expected results, and execution conditions. One test scenario can have multiple test cases. Example: Scenario—Verify login functionality. Test Cases—Login with valid credentials, invalid password, empty fields, and locked account.

A Test Case is a manual testing document containing steps, expected results, and test data. A Test Script is an automated program written using testing tools such as Selenium or Cypress to execute test cases automatically. Test cases guide manual testing, while test scripts perform automated testing.

High-Level Design (HLD) describes the overall architecture of the system, including modules, technologies, and interactions between components. Low-Level Design (LLD) provides detailed implementation information such as class diagrams, database tables, algorithms, APIs, and method-level design. HLD gives the big picture, while LLD explains how each component is built.

A build is a compiled version of the application created by combining the latest source code. It is mainly used for testing and internal validation. A release is a tested, approved, and stable version of the software delivered to customers or deployed to production. Multiple builds may be created before one final release.

A project is a temporary effort undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. It has a defined start date, end date, budget, and objectives. A product is the final software or service delivered to users and maintained throughout its lifecycle. A project ends after delivery, whereas a product continues to evolve through updates and enhancements.