Latent and Masked Defect

What is the difference between Latent and Masked Defect?

Latent bug means.....

An uncovered or unidentified bug which is existing in the system over a period of time is referred as Latent Bug. The bug may exist in the system for one or more versions of the software and may also be identified after its release.

The problems caused by the Lateral bugs will not cause damage as of now, but they are just waiting to reveal themselves later.

One good example of a Latent bug the reason for the Y2K problem. At the beginning the year was given only 2 numeric fields, but actually it needs 4 numeric fields. The problem prevails in the system for a long time and identified later and then fixed. Also the problem does not cause the damage all of a sudden and it caused only by the year 2000, which certainly needs 4 numeric field.

It is very diffucult to identify the Latent Bug by using conventional testing techniques, it can be identified by doing code review or by usability testing which foresees the forth coming problemsAn uncovered or unidentified bug which is existing in the system over a period of time is referred as Latent Bug. The bug may exists in the system for one or more versions of the software and may also be identified after its release.

Masked defect means:

Masked defect is the defect which is hiding the other defect, which is not detected. Means if there is a existing defect which is not caused (found) to reproduce another defect. It means the other defect is masked with the previous defect.

Its very best example is





If you are testing the Help of any application. If there is a defect in one link say Add Customer. But this defect was not found by QA and it is went to the live. Then there is one defect residingin the Add Customer link say the link is not working on the Add Customer page (Say there is bug in help of adding cell no in the help in the Add Customer)



Then this Add cell no is a masked defect. It means it is been masked with the Add Customer defect.

Nice description.