Bug Lifecycle
// Definition
The stages a defect passes through from discovery to closure: New → Assigned → In Progress → Fixed → Verified → Closed (with possible Reopened, Deferred, or Rejected branches).
// Related terms
Severity vs Priority
Severity describes how broken the system is (set by QA, technical impact). Priority describes how urgently it should be fixed (set by Product, business impact). The two are independent — a typo can be Trivial / P0.
Retesting
Re-running a test that previously failed, after a fix has been applied, to confirm the original defect is resolved. Distinct from regression testing, which checks unrelated areas.
Regression Test
A test that verifies previously fixed bugs haven't returned and existing features still work after new changes. Forms the safety net for refactoring and feature work.
Learn more · Software Testing Fundamentals
Chapter 5 · Lesson 2: Bug Lifecycle and Statuses