Defect Density

Defect Density is a metric used in software testing to measure the number of defects or bugs found in a software application relative to its size, usually calculated per lines of code (LOC) or function points. It helps assess the quality of the software and the effectiveness of the development and testing process.

Key components of defect density include:

• Formula: Defect Density is typically calculated as the number of defects divided by the size of the software (e.g., lines of code or function points).
  
  Defect Density = Number of Defects / Size of the Software (LOC or Function Points)

• Quality Indicator: A higher defect density indicates a higher number of defects per unit of code, suggesting lower software quality. Conversely, a lower defect density suggests fewer issues and better code quality.
• Measurement Units: Defect density is often measured in defects per thousand lines of code (KLOC) or per function points.
• Impact on Testing: Defect density helps determine the thoroughness of testing, identify problem areas in the code, and focus on high-risk components during subsequent testing phases.
• Benchmarking: It can be compared against industry standards or historical data to evaluate the effectiveness of the development and testing processes.

Defect density is an important metric for understanding the software's quality, guiding improvements in development practices, and managing resources in the testing phase.