What does the term 'incident' refer to in testing?

The term 'incident' in testing refers to any event requiring further investigation. This encompasses a broad range of occurrences that may arise during the software testing process, typically indicating a deviation from expected behavior or a potential defect within the system being tested. Incidents can include unexpected results, failures, or anomalies that need to be analyzed to understand their root causes and implications on the software's quality.

Identifying and managing incidents is a crucial part of the testing lifecycle, as it helps ensure that issues are documented and addressed, ultimately contributing to the improvement of the software product. Rather than being solely linked to test success or directly related to executed test cases, incidents represent a broader category of occurrences that warrant attention and resolution. This emphasizes the importance of thorough investigation and reporting in the testing process to enhance software reliability and performance.