---
title: "Bug life cycle"  
description: "Bug can be defined as the abnormal behavior of the software. No software exists without a bug. The elimination of bugs from the software depends upon"  
author: "Abhishek Singh"  
published: 2010-07-12  
updated: 2024-07-02  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/104/bug-life-cycle  
category: "testing"  
tags: ["testing"]  
reading_time: 3 minutes  

---

# Bug life cycle

BUG [LIFE CYCLE](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/23194/the-life-cycle-of-software-development)

## Meaning of Bug

Bug can be defined as the abnormal [behavior](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/159354/runtimeexception-and-exception-behavior) of the software. No software exists without a bug. The elimination of bugs from the software depends upon the [efficiency](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/13091/12-tips-to-boost-your-studying-efficiency) of testing done on the software. A bug is a specific concern about the [quality](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/13022/7-easy-tips-for-creating-quality-content) of the [Application](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/12824/calculator-application-in-android) under Test (AUT).

## Bug Life Cycle

In [software development](https://www.mindstick.com/services/erp-software-development) process, the bug has a life cycle. The bug should go through the life cycle to be closed. A specific life cycle ensures that the process is standardized. The bug attains different states in the life cycle. The life cycle of the bug can be shown diagrammatically as follows:

![Bug life cycle](Images/image001.jpg)

The different states of a bug can be summarized as follows:

1. New

2. Open

3. Assign

4. Test

5. Verified

6. Deferred

7. Reopened

8. [Duplicate](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/160730/contain-duplicate)

9. Rejected

10. Closed

## 1. New

When the bug is reported for the first time, its state will be “NEW”.

## 2. Open

After a QA has reported a bug, the lead of the tester approves that the bug is genuine and he changes the [state as](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/38051/what-is-the-meaning-of-foreign-state-as-given-in-our-indian-constitution) “OPEN”.

## 3. Assign

Once the lead changes the state as “OPEN”, he assigns the bug to corresponding [developer](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/11970/how-to-become-a-successful-blockchain-developer-in-just-six-months) or developer team. The state of the bug now is changed to “ASSIGN”.

## 4. Test

Once the developer fixes the bug, he reassign the bug to the testing team for next round of verification. Before he releases the software with bug fixed, he changes the state of bug to “TEST”. It specifies that the bug has been fixed and is released to testing team.

## 5. Deferred

The bug, changed to deferred state means the bug is expected to be fixed in next releases. There can be ‘n’ number of [reasons](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/story/1871/6-important-reasons-to-save-clean-water) for changing the bug to this state. Some of them are priority of the bug may be low, lack of time for the release or the bug may not have major effect on the software etc.

## 6. Rejected

If the developer feels that the bug is not genuine, he rejects the bug. Then the state of the bug is changed to “REJECTED”.

## 7. Duplicate

If the same bug is repeated twice or the two bugs mention the same concept of the bug, then one bug status is changed to “DUPLICATE”.

## 8. Verified

Once the bug is fixed and the status is changed to “TEST”, the tester tests the bug. If the bug is not present in the software, he approves that the bug is fixed and changes the status to “VERIFIED”.

## 9. Reopened

If the bug still exists even after the bug is fixed by the developer, the tester changes the status to “REOPENED”. The bug traverses the life cycle once again.

## 10. Closed

Once the bug is fixed, it is tested by the tester. If the tester feels that the bug no longer exists in the software, he changes the status of the bug to “CLOSED”. This state means that the bug is fixed, tested and approved.

---

Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/104/bug-life-cycle

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