Defect States
Defect States represent the current status of a defect as it moves through the Defect Life Cycle, indicating who owns it and what action is pending.
Defect states answer: “Where is this defect right now?”
1. Definition
Defect States represent the current status of a defect as it moves through the Defect Life Cycle, indicating who owns it and what action is pending.
Defect states answer: “Where is this defect right now?”
2. Core Defect States (Most Common)
2.1 New
- Defect is logged by the tester
- Awaiting initial review/triage
2.2 Assigned
- Defect is assigned to a developer or team
2.3 Open
- Developer has accepted the defect
- Fix is in progress
2.4 Fixed
- Developer claims the defect is resolved
- Ready for re-testing
2.5 Re-Test / Ready for Test
- Build with fix is available
- Tester is verifying the fix
2.6 Closed
- Tester confirms the fix works
- Defect is officially closed
3. Special / Conditional Defect States (Real Projects)
3.1 Reopened
- Defect still exists after fix
- Sent back to development
3.2 Rejected
- Not a valid defect (works as designed / incorrect expectation)
3.3 Duplicate
- Same issue already logged earlier
3.4 Deferred
- Fix postponed to a future release
3.5 Not Reproducible
- Developer/tester cannot reproduce the issue
3.6 Won’t Fix
- Decision made not to fix (low impact, high cost, obsolete feature)
4. Defect State Flow (Conceptual)
New → Assigned → Open → Fixed → Re-Test → Closed
↓
Reopened
5. Ownership by Defect State
| Defect State | Owner |
|---|---|
| New | Tester |
| Assigned | Test Lead / Manager |
| Open | Developer |
| Fixed | Developer |
| Re-Test | Tester |
| Closed | Tester |
| Rejected / Deferred | Dev / Business |
6. Manual Tester’s Responsibilities
- Log defect as New with clear details
- Verify fixes during Re-Test
- Close defects only after validation
- Reopen defects with evidence if needed
7. Common Mistakes
- Closing defects without proper re-test
- Reopening without clear proof
- Incorrectly marking valid defects as rejected
- Not updating defect state on time
8. Interview-Ready Answers
Short answer:
Defect states represent the different stages a defect goes through during its lifecycle.
Detailed answer:
Defect states indicate the current status of a defect, such as New, Open, Fixed, Re-Test, Closed, or Reopened, helping teams track and manage defect resolution effectively.
9. Key Takeaway
Defect States provide visibility, accountability, and control over defect resolution.