Most common software errors

Following are the most common software errors that aid you in software testing. This helps you to identify errors systematically and increases the efficiency and productivity of software testing.

Types of errors with examples

· User Interface Errors: Missing/Wrong Functions, Doesn’t do what the user expects, Missing information, Misleading, Confusing information, Wrong content in Help text, Inappropriate error messages. Performance issues - Poor responsiveness, Can't redirect output, Inappropriate use of key board

· Error Handling: Inadequate - protection against corrupted data, tests of user input, version control; Ignores – overflow, data comparison, Error recovery – aborting errors, recovery from hardware problems.

· Boundary related errors: Boundaries in loop, space, time, memory, mishandling of cases outside boundary.

· Calculation errors: Bad Logic, Bad Arithmetic, Outdated constants, Calculation errors, Incorrect conversion from one data representation to another, Wrong formula, Incorrect approximation.

· Initial and Later states: Failure to - set data item to zero, to initialize a loop-control variable, or re-initialize a pointer, to clear a string or flag, Incorrect initialization.

· Control flow errors: Wrong returning state assumed, Exception handling based exits, Stack underflow/overflow, Failure to block or un-block interrupts, Comparison sometimes yields wrong result, Missing/wrong default, Data Type errors.

· Errors in Handling or Interpreting Data: Un-terminated null strings, Overwriting a file after an error exit or user abort.

· Race Conditions: Assumption that one event or task finished before another begins, Resource races, Tasks starts before its prerequisites are met, Messages cross or don't arrive in the order sent.

· Load Conditions: Required resources are not available, No available large memory area, Low priority tasks not put off, Doesn't erase old files from mass storage, Doesn't return unused memory.

· Hardware: Wrong Device, Device unavailable, Underutilizing device intelligence, Misunderstood status or return code, Wrong operation or instruction codes.

· Source, Version and ID Control: No Title or version ID, Failure to update multiple copies of data or program files.

· Testing Errors: Failure to notice/report a problem, Failure to use the most promising test case, Corrupted data files, Misinterpreted specifications or documentation, Failure to make it clear how to reproduce the problem, Failure to check for unresolved problems just before release, Failure to verify fixes, Failure to provide summary report.