Bug report example: How to write a bug report developers will actually understand

You’ve found a bug. It’s annoying—maybe even blocking your progress. So you open your team’s bug tracker, jot down a few notes, and hit “Submit.”
The next day? You get a response from the developer: “Can’t reproduce.”
Sound familiar?

Bug reports are one of the most overlooked yet powerful tools in any software development process.
A clear, detailed report can save hours of back-and-forth, reduce frustration on both sides, and most importantly—help fix the issue faster.
But how do you write a bug report developers will actually understand? That’s a skill.

In this article, we’ll show you how to report a bug properly, break down the ideal bug report format, and walk through a real bug report example to help you do it right.

What makes a bug report “Good”?

From a developer’s point of view, a good bug report is like a well-written recipe:
It’s structured, predictable, and contains everything they need to reproduce the issue.

Here’s the core bug report format most teams expect:

A clear title
A detailed description of the issue
Steps to reproduce the bug
Expected vs. actual behavior
Environment details (device, OS, app version, etc.)
Relevant media (screenshots, videos, logs)

When all of these elements are included, the report becomes actionable.

Common mistakes in bug reporting

Before we dive into the step-by-step bug report example, let’s look at what not to do:

Vague descriptions: “App doesn’t work” tells developers nothing.
Missing steps: If the dev can’t reproduce it, it’s like the bug never existed.
No context: Developers need to know where it happened, when, and how.
No attachments: A picture really is worth a thousand Slack messages.

Step-by-Step: How to report a bug the right way

Now let’s break down exactly how to report a bug in a way that saves everyone time.

1. Title

Keep it short but descriptive.
✔️ “Crash when tapping ‘Submit’ on payment form”
❌ “App broken”

2. Description

Give a short summary of the issue. What were you doing? What was supposed to happen?

3. Steps to reproduce

Use a numbered list. Be specific.

1. Open the app

2. Go to the Cart page

3. Tap “Checkout”

4. Enter credit card details and tap “Submit”

4. Expected vs. actual behaviour

Highlight the difference.

Expected: “User should be taken to confirmation screen”
Actual: “App crashes with no error message”

5. Environment details

Device: iPhone 13
OS: iOS 17.1
App version: 4.2.1
Network: Wi-Fi

6. Attachments

Screenshot of error
Video showing the bug in action
Logs (if available)

This structure is a proven bug report format that developers appreciate. Use it consistently, and you’ll notice fewer follow-up questions—and faster fixes.

Pro Tip: Make your life easier with the right Tools

Writing all of this manually every time can be a drag. But when you use tools that are built for QA and reporting, it becomes second nature.
That’s why structured tools (like the one we’re about to show you) make such a difference.

Bug Report Example: How re:bug helps you report smarter

Let’s walk through a quick bug report example using re:bug.

With re:bug, you can:

Instantly take a screenshot from within your app
Add numbered annotations to highlight key issues
Describe each step clearly, as you experience it
Automatically include device info, app version, and OS
Send everything directly to Jira (or your tool of choice)

Instead of switching between tools or trying to remember every detail, re:bug helps you follow a best-practice bug report format with no friction.
And because your report is so clear, developers don’t waste time asking for clarification—they just fix.

Final Thoughts

Clear bug reports are a superpower. Whether you’re a QA tester, a PM, or just a curious user—knowing how to report a bug properly makes your entire team more efficient.

Use the format we shared above. Stick to the structure. Try re:bug if you want to make the process even easier.
No more “Can’t reproduce.” No more messy Jira tickets. Just fast, clean, developer-friendly bug reports.