Basic
Semi-formal
debugging
The process of identifying, isolating, and resolving errors or unexpected behaviour in software.
Full Definition
Debugging involves examining code execution—often using a dedicated debugger tool—to locate the root cause of defects, exceptions, or incorrect outputs. In developer documentation, editors encounter 'debugging' as both a gerund ('debugging is time-consuming') and a modifier ('debugging session', 'debugging tool'). The related noun 'bug' refers to the defect itself, while 'debug' is the verb. Editors should not hyphenate 'debugging' and should avoid the informal 'de-bugging'.
Usage
Usage note: Always write as one unhyphenated word. 'Debug' as a verb is standard ('to debug the script'); avoid the non-standard 'de-bug'.
In Context
- "Use the built-in debugging panel to set breakpoints and inspect variable states at runtime." — IDE feature guide
- "The debugging session revealed a null pointer exception in the authentication module." — Incident post-mortem
Also known as
troubleshooting
defect resolution
Don't confuse with
testing
profiling
logging