Manual quality assurance (QA) in web development is the process of manually checking a website or application to identify bugs, usability issues, and design inconsistencies. Typically performed by QA specialists or developers, it ensures a seamless user experience by catching issues that automated tests might miss. In other words, it’s essential to delivering a fully functioning website that works as intended.
However, identifying bugs is only part of the QA job — reporting them effectively is just as critical.
A well-written bug report helps developers understand the issue quickly, saves time, and improves the chances of a fast and accurate fix. In this post, we’ll look at six key characteristics of an actionable bug report.
1. Clear, Descriptive Titles (Think “Obvious” but Helpful)
First impressions matter, and your bug title is the first thing your team will see — so make it count! A good title conveys exactly what the issue is by identifying the specific component, page, or feature affected, along with a concise summary of the problem.
Consistency is key — avoid interchanging terminology (e.g., “Taxonomy” vs. “Taxonomy Term,” which may refer to entirely different things) and stick to the naming conventions established in your CMS or project.
Example Title:
“‘Cute Puppy Photo Request’ form can be submitted even when required fields are blank.”
2. Explain How to Reproduce the Issue
Reproducibility is the cornerstone of bug resolution. If developers can’t replicate the issue, they’ll (rightfully) struggle to understand what QA is reporting.
Provide clear, step-by-step instructions in the exact order you performed them. Don’t skip seemingly trivial details, as these can often be critical in reproducing the problem accurately.
Example Steps to Reproduce:
- As an anonymous user, navigate to [relevant URL here]
- Verify that the “Cute Puppy Photo Request” form is visible
- Leave all required fields blank
- Click the “Submit” button at the bottom of the form
- Note that the form is successfully submitted without validation errors
3. Include Relevant Screenshots or Screen Recordings
Visual aids like screenshots or videos provide context and make it much easier for developers to understand visually complex issues, such as alignment problems or animation glitches. Tools like Scrnli, native OS features, or browser extensions can help capture these details.
For extra impact, consider providing a voiceover for your recordings. There’s nothing like softly narrating QA best practices to soothe developers while they debug.
Pro tip: Include screenshots for any ticket a QA professional touches. Not only does this serve as a handy reference for future troubleshooting, but it can also pinpoint exactly which merge introduced a new bug.
4. Describe the Expected vs. Actual Results
Clearly outlining both the expected and actual outcomes helps distinguish a genuine bug from a feature or misunderstanding. Whether it’s a quick one-liner (“error should not appear”) or a more detailed explanation involving user experience considerations, this context is invaluable.
Example:
- Expected Result: After clicking “Submit,” the user should see an error message if the required fields are not filled out.
Actual Result: After clicking “Submit,” the user can submit the form without completing the required fields, and no error message is displayed.
5. Specify the Environment and Configuration
Some bugs occur only in specific environments (we’re looking at you, Safari). Always include details about the browser, OS, device, and CMS or app version where the issue was encountered. This helps prioritize fixes and ensures issues can be replicated under the same conditions.
Example:
- Browser: Chrome v95.0
- OS: Windows 10 Pro
- Device: Desktop
- Screen Resolution: 1920×1080
- CMS Version: WordPress 6.5
6. Reference Related Bugs or Previous Fixes
Many bugs are related to previous issues or fixes. If something feels familiar, take the time to dig into the backlog or related tickets—it might save hours of investigation. Mentioning related bugs, project-specific issues, or core bugs provides helpful context for developers and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
Example:
“This issue appears to have resurfaced after the ‘Cute Puppy Forms’ module update in ticket #12345.”
Final Thoughts
Effective bug reporting is one of the most valuable skills a QA engineer can bring to a project. Clear, detailed, and organized reports enable developers to address issues quickly, ensuring a better end product. And let’s be honest — developers will secretly thank you for it (even if they never say it out loud).