Glossary · Automation software engineering and architecture
Software defect
Also known as: Bug, Software fault
German: Softwarefehler
In software engineering, a software defect is an imperfection in code, design or configuration that can cause the software to fail to meet its requirements when it is executed under certain conditions.
- Software engineering
In one sentence
A software defect is a flaw in code, design or configuration that can cause the software to fail its requirements when executed.
Example
A wrong comparison operator in the level monitoring causes the pump to start one centimeter too late; the defect is found in system testing and fixed in patch 2.1.1.
How it applies
- Engineering: Defects are tracked in an issue system with severity, affected versions and fix version. Root cause analysis helps prevent similar defects.
- Functional safety: Software defects are systematic: they are present in every copy and are activated by specific conditions. Functional safety standards address them through development processes, not through failure rates.
- Documentation: Known defects affecting users belong in the known issues section of the Release note, with workarounds. Defects in the documentation itself should be tracked in the same system.
Defect vs. failure
A defect (fault) is the flaw in the software. A failure is the observable deviation from required behavior when the defect is activated. Many defects never lead to failure because the triggering conditions do not occur.