Software Errors, Faults and Failures

With respect to the software, there are three classifications of software defects or bugs as they are more commonly referred as,

• Software Error

  Software errors are sections of the code that are partially or totally incorrect as a result of a grammatical, logical or other mistake made by a systems analyst, a programmer, or another member of the software development team.An error can be a grammatical error in one or more of the code lines,or a logical error in carrying out one or more of the client’s
  requirements.An error may or may not be detected during the coding or
  testing of the program before it is released to a customer.

• Software Fault

  Software faults are software errors that cause the incorrect
  functioning of the software during a specific application A software fault occurs as a result of an error that remains in the executing program However, not all software errors become software faults.Not all faults however are detected and the software may continue executing without any obvious problems.There are cases where software faults go undetected for many years of a programs existence

• Software Failure

  Software faults become software failures only when they are “activated”, that is, when a user tries to apply the specific software section that is faulty. Thus, the root of any software failure is a software error.