What do you understand by the terms error, fault, and failure?

A software error, fault, and failure occurs when the behavior of software is different from the required behavior.

Edmond, OK (prHWY.com) August 10, 2012 - Errors

An error is a discrepancy between the actual value of the output given by the software and the specified correct value of the output for that given input. That is, error refers to the difference between the actual output of the software and the correct output. An error is also used to refer to the wrong decision in a given case as compared to what is expected to be the right one. Error also refers to human actions that result in software containing a defect or fault.

Types of Errors

Errors can be classified into two categories:

1. Syntax Error. A syntax error is a program statement that violates one or more rules of the language in which it is written.
2. Logic Error. A logic error deals with incorrect data fields, out-of-range terms, and invalid combinations.

Faults

A fault is a condition that causes a system to fail in performing its required function.

A fault is the basic reason for software malfunction. It is also commonly called a bug. Even though correct input is given to the system, when it fails then we say the system has a fault or a bug, and needs repair.

The number of faults in software is the difference between the number introduced and the number removed.

Faults are introduced when the code is being developed by programmers. They may introduce the faults during original design or when they are adding new features, making design changes, or repairing faults that have been identified.

Faults removal obviously can't occur unless you have some means of detecting the fault in the first place. Thus, fault removal resulting from execution depends on the occurrence of the associated failure. Occurrence depends both on the length of time for which the software has been executing and on the execution environment or operational profile. When different functions are executed, different faults are encountered and the failures that are exhibited tend to be different; thus, are environmental influence. We can often find faults without execution. They may be found through inspection, compiler diagnostics, design or code reviews, or code reading.

Failure

Failure is the inability of the software to perform a required function to its specification. In other words, when software goes ahead in processing without showing error or fault even though certain input and process specification are violated, then it is called a software failure.

A software failure occurs when the behavior of software is different from the required behavior.

A failure is produced only when there is a fault in the system. In other words, faults have the potential to cause failures and their presence is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for failure to occur.

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