Bug vs feature: What's the difference?
Published on: June 06, 2024
Last updated: June 20, 2024 Read in fullscreen view
Last updated: June 20, 2024 Read in fullscreen view
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Figuring out the difference between a bug and a feature isn't always that straightforward. But sometimes, a bug report can lead to a great feature idea.
Spotting these feature opportunities can save development costs and make your users feel heard. In this post, we'll learn how to tell bugs apart from features, find feature ideas in bugs, and prioritize them effectively.
Bug versus feature
A bug is an unintended error that causes problems. A feature is a planned functionality that improves the software.
Bugs can disrupt the user experience under specific conditions, while features should enhance it.
But in reality, the line between bugs and features isn't always so clear.
Real-world scenarios often blur these distinctions, making it challenging for product managers to navigate user feedback:
- Design decisions mistaken as bugs: Sometimes, what users report as a bug is actually an intentional design decision. For example, a productivity app might limit the number of active tasks in the daily list to encourage focus. Users accustomed to unlimited tasks could see this as a bug, when in fact it's a conscious design decision from the product team.
- Differences in user interpretation: Different users might define features and bugs differently. People - especially those not tech-savvy - often mistake any undesired behavior as a "bug" even if it's just a feature they don't understand. When Instagram first switched from a chronological to an algorithmic feed, many users first thought the disordered posts were a bug.
- Undocumented improvements: Sometimes, developers roll out minor updates or features without documenting them. Users unaware of these might encounter new functionality and mistake it for a bug. This also shows the importance of maintaining a changelog to keep users informed.
- Unintended benefits from bugs: In some cases, what starts as a bug may be embraced by users as a beneficial feature. There are many famous examples of that, so lets take a look at couple
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