Using standardized terminology improves clarity, professionalism, and moderation speed. Below is a list of commonly used terms in bug reporting, along with definitions and examples.
Core Reporting Terms
“The User”
Refers to the person performing the action that leads to the bug. This term is preferred because it is neutral and impersonal, helping maintain objectivity in reports.
Examples:
“When the user launches the app…”
“The issue occurs when the user taps the Submit button.”
Displayed
Use when describing visual output. Replace informal words like shown, appears, or seen with displayed.
Examples:
“A loading screen is displayed.”
“The text is incorrectly displayed.”
Overlap
Used when one UI element appears on top of another while maintaining its boundaries.
Example:
“The pop-up overlaps the navigation bar.”
Spill
Used when text or another element extends beyond its designated boundary and breaks its container.
Example:
“The error message text spills out of the pop-up container.”
Misspelled
Use when a word is written incorrectly.
Example:
“Several words are misspelled on the Privacy Policy page.”
Access
Use instead of informal phrases like “go to” or “enter.”
Example:
“When the user accesses the Settings screen, the app crashes.”
Functionality
Refers to the actions and features that an app supports.
Example:
“The app’s functionality is limited under low connectivity.”
Improperly
A general term for incorrect behavior.
Example:
“The animation is improperly displayed.”
Performance & Stability Terms
Infinite Loading
Loading that continues for an excessive time (generally over 2 minutes).
Example:
“Infinite loading is displayed after tapping Multiplayer.”
Freeze
The app stops responding, but the device itself remains functional.
Example:
“The app freezes after exiting the login screen.”
Stuck
The app continues providing feedback but prevents further progress, usually requiring a restart.
Example:
“The app becomes stuck on the Settings screen.”
Crash
The app closes or stops functioning unexpectedly.
Example:
“The app crashes when opening the gallery.”
Lag
A noticeable delay between user input and system response.
Example:
“There is significant lag when swiping between images.”
Glitch
A minor irregular or temporary malfunction.
Example:
“A visual glitch causes the profile picture to flicker.”
Interaction & UI Terms
Enable / Disable
Activate or deactivate a feature.
Example:
“The app crashes when the user disables location services.”
Unable
Used when an expected action cannot be completed.
Example:
“The user is unable to proceed to the next screen.”
Toggle
A switch that alternates between on/off states.
Example:
“The toggle remains active after being turned off.”
Slider
A swipable control for adjusting values.
Example:
“The volume slider stops at 80%.”
Dropdown
A menu that expands to show selectable options.
Example:
“The country dropdown does not display all available options.”
Popup / Pop-up
A small window appearing over main content.
Example:
“A pop-up prompts the user to enable notifications.”
Modal
A pop-up that must be interacted with before returning to the main interface.
Example:
“The confirmation modal blocks interaction with the rest of the app.”
Tooltip
A small informational overlay that appears on hover or tap.
Example:
“No tooltip is displayed when hovering over the info icon.”
Disabled (Button/Field)
Visible but inactive element.
Example:
“The Submit button remains disabled after completing the form.”
Navigate
Move between screens or sections.
Example:
“After navigating to Settings, the wrong profile is displayed.”
Scroll / Scrollable
Moving through content larger than the visible area.
Example:
“The chat screen is not scrollable.”
Drag and Drop
Click, move, and release interaction.
Example:
“Drag and drop does not rearrange the items.”
Highlight / Highlighted
Visually indicating selection.
Example:
“The selected option is not highlighted.”
System & Technical Terms
Session
Active period between login and logout.
Example:
“The session expires after 10 minutes of inactivity.”
Timeout
An operation is canceled after exceeding the allowed waiting period.
Example:
“A timeout error occurs during payment processing.”
Sync / Synchronization
Keeping data consistent across devices or platforms.
Example:
“Changes do not sync between web and mobile.”
Permissions
Access rights requested by the app.
Example:
“The app crashes if camera permissions are denied.”
Idle
App remains open but inactive.
Example:
“The app logs out after 15 minutes of idle time.”
Notification
System alert informing the user of events.
Example:
“No notification is received for new messages.”
Onboarding
Initial introduction/tutorial flow for new users.
Example:
“Onboarding screens appear only during the first login.”
Responsive Design
UI that adapts to different screen sizes.
Example:
“The page layout lacks responsive design on tablets.”
Reproducible / Replicate
A bug is reproducible if it consistently occurs when following the same steps.
Example:
“The issue is reproducible when logging in with a new account.”
Edge Case
A rare scenario occurring under extreme or unusual conditions.
Example:
“An edge case occurs when entering a 50-character username.”
Final Note
Using standardized terminology:
Improves report clarity
Reduces moderation corrections
Helps avoid duplicates
Strengthens your professional credibility
Clear, precise language is one of the strongest tools a professional tester can develop.
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