Understanding Why Software Defects Occur

A defect in software results from some type of mistake. Usually these mistakes are a result of human error, but sometimes they are caused by systemic errors in the development process. Mistakes can also result from faulty development tools, a misunderstanding of customer requirements, or other issues that arise in the course of software development. Fortunately, not every mistake leads to a defect, but almost all defects can be traced back to some type of mistake (see Table 1-2).

Table 1-2. Mistakes and Resulting Software Defects
Typical Mistakes That Cause Software Defects
MistakeCommunication difficulties between customers and software developers
Software DefectDesired software functionality is missing ...

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