What is a bug report? Definition and examples
A description of something in software that isn’t working as expected, with enough detail for someone to find and fix it.
Bug report: A description of something in software that isn’t working as expected, with enough detail for someone to find and fix it.
A useful bug report says what the person did, what happened, what they expected, and where: the page or screen, device and version.
Reports from real users are often short. Good tools fill in the technical context automatically and ask for the missing detail.
Example
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| What happened | The total stayed at €612 |
| Expected | €816 for 4 nights |
| Where | Stay page, Safari, iPhone 15 |
The parts of a complete bug report
| Part | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Summary | Lets someone decide in seconds whether it is urgent |
| Steps to reproduce | Lets a developer see the bug for themselves |
| Expected vs actual result | Separates a bug from a misunderstanding |
| Environment | Browser, device, app version: many bugs only happen in one |
| Screenshot or recording | Shows what words can’t |
| Severity | How many people it affects and whether there is a workaround |
Internal vs user bug reports
Testers and teammates can be asked to follow a template. Customers can’t. They will write one line, and that is fine, as long as the tool adds the environment and someone asks for the missing piece while they still remember. Most of a good user bug report should be collected, not typed.
Signs a bug report needs more
- No page or screen, so you don’t know where to look.
- No expected result, so you can’t tell if it is a bug or a design choice.
- Words like “broken” or “doesn’t work” with nothing else.
Where Bopmigo fits
Bopmigo turns a one-line report into a complete one: page, device and screenshot attached, and a short follow-up for what they expected.
Questions
What’s the most important part of a bug report?
Research with developers points to steps to reproduce. See what developers need.
Who should write bug reports?
Anyone who finds one. Make it easy for customers and testers, and let the tool fill in the technical parts.
What is the difference between a bug report and a feature request?
A bug is something that should work and doesn’t. A request is something new or different that someone wants.