What are the different types and levels of User Acceptance Testing Defects?

In some cases, one or more of these areas could have their own dedicated phases of testing. For example Performance testing can be a separate phase as UAT testers might not be enough to simulate peak activity.

We can expect defects to be found in UAT, and hopefully the test team has found any high or critical defects. But I think it is important to remind UAT testers that their job is not to break the system. This is acceptance to make sure it works for them. Some UAT testers will stand on their head to find something that breaks the system if they are resistant to a change that is coming.

Functional Defects: Errors or deviations from expected behavior, such as incorrect calculations or missing features. Usability Defects: Issues affecting user experience, like poor layout or unclear instructions. Performance Defects: Problems with speed, reliability, or efficiency, such as slow loading times or frequent crashes. Security Defects: Vulnerabilities compromising confidentiality, integrity, or availability. Compatibility Defects: Issues that arise when the system interacts with other systems or environments.

Given that system is still in testing mode the timeframe for fixing the defects shall be also taking into consideration 1. Total time allocated for UAT phase 2. UAT exit criteria - i.e. how many bugs of each type is acceptable to be carried on in production (usually 0 critical but some high might be accepted by business if workaround is available, root cause known and resolution time agreed)

In My experience, I thing When the old bugs remain unresolved and the testing window is approaching its end, it is crucial to elevate and change the severity and priority of UAT (User Acceptance Testing) bugs. e.g. Change medium to high, and high to critical.

Critical Defects: Must be addressed immediately and thoroughly as they pose a serious threat to business operations or safety. High Defects: Should be fixed promptly and with high quality, as they significantly impair system performance or usability. Medium Defects: Require resolution within a reasonable timeframe and acceptable quality, impacting user convenience and efficiency. Low Defects: Can be addressed later or with lower priority, as they have a minor impact on system performance or usability.

In User Acceptance Testing (UAT), defects are typically categorized by impact and severity to help prioritize fixes. Common categories include Critical defects, which are show-stoppers that prevent users from proceeding with key tasks, and must be fixed immediately. Major defects significantly impact functionality but might have a workaround, requiring prompt attention. Minor defects affect usability or cosmetic issues, which don't halt operations and can be resolved later. Trivial defects are very low-impact, often involving typos or small UI tweaks, and usually don’t affect the overall user experience. By categorizing defects this way, I can efficiently prioritize the work needed to ensure a smooth and functional release.

Unique Identifier: A distinct ID to differentiate it from other defects. Type: Classification such as functional, usability, performance, security, or compatibility. Level: Severity classified as critical, high, medium, or low. Location: Specifies where the defect is found, such as module name, screen name, feature name, or URL. Description: A clear and concise explanation including expected vs. actual results, steps to reproduce, and screenshots or attachments if applicable.

You can categorize them as: 1. Critical: Entire application, component or function will not work. There is no workaround. Examples: environment unavailability, data integrity related to security, confidentiality, legal or regulatory non-compliance. 2. High: Some components or functions will not work. Workarounds are available. Examples: Loss of a critical component, failed data validation etc. 3. Medium: Corruption of non-critical component with low impact to end users or the application. Workarounds are available. 4. Low: Defects with low impact to the business operations/end users such as UI/cosmetic issues or application operations that are unexpected. This way, communication with your clients will be straightforward.

High Priority: Address critical and high-level defects first, as they impact core functions or essential requirements of the system. Medium Priority: Focus on frequent medium-level defects that affect system performance or usability regularly. Low Priority: Resolve low-level defects last, as they have a minor or negligible impact on the system.

When reporting UAT defects, I focus on clear and detailed documentation to ensure effective resolution. I make sure each defect report includes a concise summary of the issue, steps to reproduce it, the expected versus actual results, and the severity level. Including screenshots or videos helps provide context and makes it easier for the development team to understand and address the issue quickly. I also tag each defect with relevant information, like the affected module or feature, to help prioritize fixes. Regularly updating the defect status in tracking tools like JIRA keeps everyone informed and helps maintain a smooth testing and resolution process.

Defect Report: Records details such as categorization, prioritization, and a clear description of the defect. Defect Log: Tracks the status and resolution of each defect, including updates and comments. Defect Summary: Provides an overview of the number, type, level, location, and status of defects. It should also highlight trends, patterns, and insights derived from the defects.