In the context of software testing, a “test incident” refers to an unexpected event, anomaly, or deviation from expected behavior that is observed while conducting a test. Test incidents are typically unwanted and unexpected outcomes that indicate a potential problem or defect in the software under evaluation. Test incidents can encompass various issues, including software defects, errors, crashes, unexpected behaviors, or any other outcomes that do not align with the expected results outlined in the test case or test scenario.
Here are some common examples of test incidents:
- Defects or Bugs: The most common type of test incident is the discovery of defects or software bugs that can range from minor issues to critical problems affecting the functionality of the software.
- Errors and Exceptions: Test incidents may include runtime errors or exceptions that occur when specific conditions are met during the test.
- Unexpected Outputs: These incidents involve situations where the software produces results or outputs that differ from the expected or specified outcomes in the test case.
- Performance Issues: Test incidents related to performance can include slow response times, high resource consumption, or other performance bottlenecks that impact the user experience.
- Security Vulnerabilities: Test incidents may reveal security vulnerabilities, such as unauthorized access or data leaks.
- Compatibility Problems: When the software fails to work correctly on different platforms, browsers, or operating systems, these incidents are documented.
- Functional Deviations: Test incidents can occur when the software behaves differently from what is specified in the requirements or design documents.
- User Interface (UI) Problems: Issues related to the appearance, layout, or behavior of the user interface can also be classified as test incidents.
Test incidents are typically documented in a Test Incident Report (TIR) or a defect report. These reports include detailed information about the incident, such as a description of the problem, steps to reproduce, the actual and expected results, the severity and priority of the incident, and any relevant attachments or supporting materials. Test incident reports serve as a means of communication between testers, developers, and other stakeholders to address and resolve issues in the software.
The process of identifying, documenting, prioritizing, assigning, and resolving test incidents is an essential part of the software testing and quality assurance process. It helps ensure that software products are thoroughly tested, defects are addressed, and the software meets quality and functionality requirements before it is released to end-users or customers.