Severity & Priority

Yavuz Selim Hasturk
2 min readJan 24, 2024

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In the given text, I wanted to examine the concepts of Severity and Priority, which are crucial in the field of software testing and are sometimes confused during interviews.

These concepts are particularly used frequently in the processes of error reporting and tracking reported errors, and they hold significance. Let’s first look at the definitions of these concepts:

Severity: It denotes the level of importance of a bug or defect. Here, importance refers to the impact the error has on the software or the damage it causes to users. The significance of the error is often expressed on a scale (such as Critical-Major-Minor-Low). This severity level is used to prioritize the degree of the error. Different sources also describe Severity as “seriousness.

Priority: It specifies the priority level of a bug or defect. Priority indicates how important or urgent it is to address an error and is used to determine the order in which it should be resolved (High-Medium-Low, for example). Determining priority is crucial for effective resource utilization and giving priority to the most important issues.

Photo by Florian Olivo on Unsplash

Severity is more related to the technical evaluation of an error. It focuses on the impact and possible consequences of the error. Priority, on the other hand, is determined based on the effect of the error on business processes and user experience.

In the field of software testing expertise, accurately classifying errors and issues based on their types, standards, and structures is also crucial.

Having a good understanding of Severity and Priority allows individuals and organizations to make informed decisions, allocate resources effectively, and manage workflows efficiently.

Integrating these concepts into our daily practices enhances problem-solving skills, reduces risks, and leads to better outcomes in both personal and professional lives.

Wishing everyone productive work.

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