Write Better Bug Titles & Get Faster Fixes
Writing a good bug report is an art form, and it starts with the title. While it might seem trivial compared to the complex technical details that follow, a well-crafted bug title can be the difference between quick triaging of the bug and time spent in back-and-forth clarification.
The Overlooked Power of a Good Bug Title
During triage meetings, developers and product managers often scan through dozens of bug reports, making split-second decisions about prioritization based primarily on titles before further digging into the issues. A vague title like "Button doesn't work" forces the team to dig deeper just to understand what they're dealing with, while "Payment Page > Submit Button Remains Disabled After Valid Form Completion" immediately communicates the location, component, and issue.
In our work with development teams, we've seen how proper bug titles significantly reduce the time from discovery to resolution.
Location First: The Value of Breadcrumb
One of the most effective techniques we've implemented at Lyon is starting bug titles with clear location breadcrumbs. These navigational aids show exactly where in the product the issue occurs:
User Settings > Notifications > Email Preferences: Toggle State Not Saved After Clicking Apply
This approach offers several immediate benefits:
- Developers can quickly navigate to the exact location without guesswork
- Similar issues can be easily grouped by affected area
- Search functionality becomes more powerful when looking for related bugs
- Teams can identify pattern issues affecting specific product sections
Breadcrumbs should reflect the logical structure of your product rather than the exact navigation path a user might take. For example, you don't need to include "Login > Dashboard" before every issue—just start with the relevant section where the problem exists.
Beyond Location: Crafting the Issue Description
After establishing location through breadcrumbs, the rest of your title should succinctly describe:
- The affected component (button, form, modal, table)
- The observed problem (fails to load, displays incorrect data, freezes)
- The context or trigger when relevant (after form submission, on mobile devices only)
Compare these examples:
Poor: "Search bug"
Better: "Search: Results Not Displayed When Using Special Characters"
Poor: "Profile picture issue"
Better: "User Profile > Avatar Upload: Error Message Not Displayed When File Exceeds Size Limit"
The difference is significant. The better examples provide enough context for quick understanding without requiring the reader to open the full report.
Make Titles Searchable
Teams often search bug databases when working on related features or investigating patterns. Searchable titles make this process way more efficient.
Include specific, technical terms in your titles rather than vague descriptions:
Poor: "Things look wrong on the page"
Better: "Product Listing: Grid Layout Breaks at 768px Viewport Width"
When naming affected components, use the same terminology that appears in code or design documentation. This consistency creates a shared language between QA, development, and product teams.
Avoid Common Pitfalls
In our experience reviewing thousands of bug reports, we've identified several common title mistakes:
- Emotional language: "Terrible user experience in checkout" adds no useful information
- Personal pronouns: "I can't click the button" is less clear than "Button Not Clickable"
- Excessive technical details: Save stack traces and browser versions for the description
- Speculation about causes: Focus on what you observe, not why you think it's happening
- Generic severity indicators: "URGENT" in a title is less helpful than specific impact details
The Bottom Line
A well-crafted bug title is much more than a formality, it's a powerful communication tool that streamlines the bug triage process. By including clear breadcrumbs and writing concise, informative descriptions, you create a foundation for efficient bug resolution.
Remember that your bug title will often be viewed in isolation, stripped of all the detailed context in your full report. Taking the extra minute to craft it thoughtfully saves everyone time down the line and ultimately contributes to a more efficient, less frustrating development process.
