Defect Priority
Overview
Defect priority of the defect indicates the level of importance or urgency with which it would need to be fixed. The priority level is usually assigned by tester while raising the defect.
Defect Priority
Note that the specific defect priority classifications and their names may vary from one organization to another. In general defect priority is categorized into the following types:
- High
- Medium
- Low
High
Defects that are classified as high-priority require urgent attention. Immediate action should be taken to mitigate the risk and minimize any disruption. High-priority defects usually involve the complete failure of the system, rendering it impossible to conduct any further testing. They may also impact other testing initiatives and processes. Most organizations have a timeframe for resolving these issues, which is typically within 24 hours.
Medium
Defects that fall under the medium-priority category are significant, but not as pressing as high-priority ones. They have the potential to affect specific functionalities or a particular user subset. While these defects should be resolved in the near future, they do not necessarily demand immediate action. Medium-priority defects are tackled once all high-priority issues have been resolved.
If a program is not functioning as expected due to a defect, but the system is not completely failing and major functionality is not affected, then the defect can be considered a medium priority. It is important to resolve these issues before releasing the program.
Low
Low-priority defects are typically minor issues or cosmetic flaws that do not significantly impact system functionality or user experience. These defects are often low urgency and may be addressed in future releases or updates when resources allow.
Properly classifying defects and adhering to the priority assigned helps development teams effectively manage their workloads, prioritize tasks, and deliver a higher-quality software product.
