How do you decide whether something is a bug, a feature request or just a question?
BugsJunior
In shortIt's a bug when the product doesn't behave as specified or as users can reasonably expect. It's a feature request when it works as intended but something new or different is wanted. When the expected behavior is unclear, it's a question for the product owner before it becomes either.
Model answer
I compare what I see against a reference: the requirements, acceptance criteria, designs, platform conventions, and what a user would reasonably expect.
Bug: the product doesn’t do what it should.
The spec says a coupon gives 10% off, but the total doesn’t change. Or: the app crashes, loses data, or shows the wrong price. Even without a spec, a crash is never “expected”.
Feature request (or improvement): it works as intended, but it could be better or different.
The search works correctly, but users would like to filter by price. Nobody asked for it, so it’s a new requirement, not a defect.
Question: I can’t tell what the expected behavior is.
Should a discount apply before or after delivery fees? The spec doesn’t say, and both are plausible. I ask the product owner first, in the ticket or the team chat.
Grey areas are common. A confusing label that matches the design isn’t a defect against the spec, but it may cause real user mistakes. I report it as a usability issue or improvement, explain the impact, and let the product owner decide.
Keeping these separate matters: the bug list stays focused on real defects, good ideas go to the backlog, and questions get answered instead of argued about.
Learn more: User Stories and Acceptance Criteria
What they're looking for
Using requirements and reasonable user expectations as the reference, honesty about uncertainty, and routing each type to the right place so the bug list stays useful.
Common mistakes
- Reporting every personal preference as a bug.
- Never reporting usability problems because "it's not in the spec".
- Arguing about the label instead of asking the product owner.